Limpopo police searching for vigilante suspects
Police in Hlogotlou neat Groblersdal have launched a manhunt for a group of community members believed responsible for the brutal mob-killing of a man accused of being involved in a spate of crimes in the area, Limpopo police said on Sunday.
"This senseless attack and subsequent killing of a 31-year-old man staying at Monsterlus Unit B happened in the evening after members of the community went on [the] rampage tracing this man until they caught him and assaulted him with various objects to death," Lt-Col Moatshe Ngoepe said.
It was alleged that the man went to his girlfriend's homestead at Monsterlus (Matsitsi) and on his arrival attacked her and her younger sister "by attempting to burn them on their faces with petrol". A friend of the girls saw the incident and screamed for help. Subsequently, community members responded in numbers and chased the man until they caught him and stoned him to death.
The man's girlfriend and her sister were admitted to hospital for treatment of serious injuries. Police investigations were continuing, Ngoepe said.
Meanwhile, in Mankweng near Polokwane, police were also searching for a group of community members who stoned to death a 24-year-old suspected criminal on Saturday in the Nobody area at Thakgalang village.
It was alleged that the man was attacked by community members who accused him of killing one Lawrence Ngaletsane Botabota at a liquor outlet on Friday night. This investigation was also continuing.
Members of the community were warned to stop taking the law into their own hands by killing suspected criminals. They should instead call the police as required by law.
"We are not going to leave any stone unturned until every person involved in these two separate incidents are arrested," Ngoepe said.
Anyone with information about the incidents should please contact provincial detectives via Lt-Col William Ramokhubedu at 082-499-8389, or the crime stop number 08600-10111, or the crime line sms 32211.