LIMPOPO – The body of 25-year-old Mhlori Maluleke was found hanging from a tree, nearby a mountain outside Gandlanani village, near Giyani.
Maluleke reportedly went missing on 8 August and according to a statement by Police Spokesperson, Col Moatshe Ngoepe, his body was found in a stage of decomposition.
“The cause of death will still be determined by the ongoing police investigations and post-mortem examination,” Ngoepe explained.
Maluleke’s disappearance sparked community outrage and led to an incidence of mob justice, in which a man (52) was set a light. The man, said to be an employee of a businessman accused of being responsible for Maluleke’s disappearance, has since succumbed to his injuries. Other properties of the businessman and another employee was also torched in the incident.
“They reportedly consulted a sangoma who in turn pointed out the three men as the ones responsible for the disappearance of the victim. They assaulted, burnt and dragged the 52-year-old man to the house belonging to the businessman’s mother, where they torched it together with three vehicles which were parked inside the garage,” Ngoepe added.
He said the businessman’s double story house was pelted with stones, damaging the electric fence and some property.
“The angry mob continued with the attack and burned the house belonging to the other employee, aged 51. On the way to the brick yard owned by this businessman, they came across one of his vehicles and torched it. The driver managed to escape unharmed,” he explained.
The Public Order Police (POPs) Unit with assistance from the Saps Air-Wing and the local police were able to stabilise the situation.
“Twenty suspects, 19 men and one woman who were arrested, appeared before the Giyani Magistrate’s court on charges of murder, arson, malicious damage to property and public violence,” Ngoepe said.
Also read: Giyani Mob Justice: 21 face murder charges after man succumbs to injuries
They were all denied bail and their cases were postponed to 27 October for further police investigations.
