Limpopo police come to rescue of suspected robber, rapist
The men were accused of orchestrating a series of crimes in and around the Tshakhuma TVET College
LIMPOPO – Two suspected criminals were given a dose of their own medicine when an angry community last Wednesday turned on them.
The police came to their rescue shortly before villagers planned to set them alight.
The Punda Maria road was closed by angry residents of Tshakhuma as they were looking for the rape suspects, said to have been active criminals on the Tshakhuma TVET College.
The men were attacked, and accused of orchestrating a series of crimes in surrounding areas.
It is thought that during the brutal attack, the men admitted to the crimes.
One resident said the assault was a good thing.
“These criminals think they can do as they wish in the community. We are tired of crime and the rule of law is taking us nowhere. Beating or killing them will send a strong message that whoever wants to indulge in crime should think twice before doing so,” he said.
A community member, Duncan Rammbuda said there a high incidence of crime in the area that needed residents to work in close cooperation with the police.
“Ugly situations like these could be averted if criminals are locked away for a long time. Residents are angry, but we made an appeal that we do not take the law into our own hands.”
“Together, as residents and the police, we can clean our villages of crime.
“Criminals live in our midst and we have to expose them and they will have no place to hide,” he said.
The angry mob then traced the suspects, cornered and attacked them with various objects, before the police came to their rescue.
The police’s Brig Motjafela Mojapelo said an attempted murder case had been opened.
Police further warned residents not to take the law into their own hands, but to work with the police in apprehending criminals.
He confirmed that they arrested two suspects of robbery and rape.
The two suspects remain in custody.
