Mob justice ends in murder after man is wrongfully accused
She later retracted her statement and the mob apparently gave her the same justice that they had given Thabo and she was later hospitalised.
SHARPEVILLE.- The family of the late Thabo Mokoena (31) has come out to say that the community has killed the wrong person.
Mmogo Mokoena (50), auntie of the deceased, said they were told by his girlfriend, that Thabo was assaulted at his home in Extention 14, Bophelong on last Tuesday. He was apparently accused and assaulted for no apparent reason. During the ordeal, Thabo is said to have been taken to the home of another deceased also known as Thabo in Ext 12, Bophelong where the community proceeded with the assault. The deceased was apparently accused of having been a gang member, after he was apparently pointed out by a woman who accused him of having stolen her cellphone.
She later retracted her statement and the mob apparently gave her the same justice that they had given Thabo and she was later hospitalised.
Mmogo said they were informed that during the ordeal, police were there taking videos of the scene. It was apparently later discovered that they had attacked a wrong person. Another woman, in the presence of police, apparently pointed out that the deceased was not the right suspect. A relative said someone in the mob put a panga knife on Thabo’s neck. Thabo is survived by his five year old son and girlfriend. The family said it’s hard to believe that he is no more.
“We hope and trust that justice will prevail. It’s hard to hear that all this happened in front of the police. Police were supposed to intervene instead of look the other way,” said Mmogo.
Police spokesperson Surgeant Gertrude Makhale said a case of murder is been investigated. No one has been arrested. Mmogo said they were informed that during the ordeal, police were there taking videos of the scene. It was apparently later discovered that they had attacked a wrong person. Another woman, in the presence of police, apparently pointed out that the deceased was not the right suspect. A relative said someone in the mob put a panga knife on Thabo’s neck. Thabo is survived by his five year old son and girlfriend. The family said it’s hard to believe that he is no more. “We hope and trust that justice will prevail. It’s hard to hear that all this happened in front of the police. Police were supposed to intervene instead of look the other way,” said Mmogo. Police spokesperson Surgeant Gertrude Makhale said a case of murder is been investigated. No one has been arrested.
