The incident occurred in the Vereeniging CBD on Voortrekker Street at around 14:20.
The wife of the victim is said to have been feeding her baby in the car while her husband went to draw money at an ATM. Sitting in the vehicle she observed one of three suspects grabbing her husband by the neck while others searched him.
The woman handed her baby to another passenger, got out the vehicle and charged towards the suspects. After noticing the approaching woman the suspects scattered in all directions. The woman managed to grab one of the men by his belt and wrestled him to the ground.
As the suspect was about to get up, members of the public came to the aid of the woman and her husband and prevented him from leaving. Mob justice was then served.
The suspect was heard screaming and crying, begging for mercy as members of the public relentlessly assaulted him.
The suspect told his attackers that it was the other suspects that had taken the purse and cell phone.
After taking a severe beating he suddenly produced a cell phone. Members of the community proceeded to search him in an attempt to find the missing wallet. At that time, a man wielding a hammer intervened and hit the suspect on the forehead.
The suspect cried louder as blood was running down his forehead. The woman was later praised by crowd for being brave enough to save her husband from the lion’s jaws.
At the time of the incident some of the suspect friends were seen walking past the scene pretending to be onlookers.
They quickly fled the scene after a member of the crowd noticed them and alerted other people of their presence.
