Two men beaten and burnt to death during mob justice incident in ga-Molepo
The deceased were kidnapped by the community on Monday, 21 October, accused of stock theft and severely assaulted in the Sebjeng community hall
POLOKWANE – Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba says those responsible for the death of Thabana Mokgohloa (58) and Mack Mashapa (55) in Sebjeng village, ga-Molepo, will be hunted down and brought to book.
This, after the men’s charred bodies were found by police on Tuesday, 22 October following their alleged kidnapping by the community who accused them of stock theft.
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Police Spokesperson, Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo says the men were taken to the Sebjeng ga-Molepo community hall and severely assaulted. “They were then taken to bushes next to the old Setlakalane High School where they were burnt. A motor vehicle belonging to one of the deceased was also found torched a few kilometres from the scene,” he said.
Mojapelo added that police are investigating the possibility that a third person might have suffered the same fate.
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“The people who committed these vigilante acts will be hunted down and brought to book. South Africa is a constitutional democracy where the rule of law reigns supreme and in which the presumption of innocence must be granted until proved otherwise by a court of law. People must report anyone they suspect of being a criminal to the police and not take the law into their own hands,” General Ledwaba said.
Cases of two counts of murder and kidnapping have been opened for investigation and a manhunt is already underway for the suspects. Police urge anyone with information that can assist with investigations into the matter to contact the nearest police or call the crime stop number at 086001011.
