Noordgesig & Pennyville residents at an impasse after mob justice
WATCH: The father of the late Dalton Butler not happy with the way his son died.
It seems community members have lost trust in the South African Police Service (SAPS) – this comes after two boys were battered to death allegedly by the residents of Pennyville on Sunday, September 15.
It’s barely a month after a similar incident took place in Orlando East where three lives were lost in the hands of an angry mob.
The two boys who recently died a tragic death are from Noordgesig. Selwyn Butler, the father of one of the boys who died a painful death, described his son Dalton Butler as a very loving child who was peaceful, and like any other child, he too had his tricks but was never involved in any criminal activities.
Butler said he heard people talking that two boys from the area were being attacked by a mob in Pennyville and when he got to the scene – both his son and the friend were laying on the street lifeless.
He [Selwyn] could not even explain how he felt when he saw his child laying in a pool of blood. Butler said a case has been opened at the Orlando Police Station. He says he has faith in the justice system.
“Why should we take the law into our own hands instead of letting the police deal with criminals in the area. As residents we are not investigators and do not have the expertise to deal with crime,” he said.
According to Captain Hitler Ngwenya, mob justice is not a solution to any problem. He said they [cops] wish the community would have faith in the system.
“People can misinterpret situations and end up working together in the murder of innocent people,” said Ngwenya.
He added that even if the victims did commit a crime that caused unrest in the community, it is not justifiable to assault someone or torture them. Captain Ngwenya pleaded with members of the community to work with them.
On September 18, residents in Noordgesig took to the streets to express their grievance and it is alleged that they are threatening to prevent people from Pennyville from entering their area.
A spokesperson for Orlando Police Station, Constable Monica Hangwani, explained what transpired at the scene stating that the two boys had a battery in their possession and that when the community of Pennyville saw them and they assumed it was stolen from the area and attacked the boys.
She further explained that the protest that took place on Wednesday, September 18 – was triggered by the police when they went to escort someone who had called the police station to ask for protection and the people assumed that the police were defending him. She said all that caused a division among the community.
Constable Hangwani pleaded with the community to come together so that they can be able to come up with a solution to this problem because after all, they are all residents of the same community.
She urged parents to warn their children against crime. She said if the community faces any problems or see suspicious activity taking place in the area they should call the sector manager on 112 or 10111 or call 011 983 4829.
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