Community Members Arrested for Mob Justice Incident in Lenasia
Twelve community members have been taken into custody in Nana’s Farm, Lenasia, following a tragic mob justice incident that resulted in the deaths of four men on Friday. Two other men were also severely injured and are currently receiving medical treatment at the hospital.
The six men who fell victim to the mob were accused of engaging in criminal activities within the community. The group of community members allegedly apprehended the men, whom they suspected of housebreaking and theft, and proceeded to assault and burn them.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo confirmed the details of the incident, stating that four of the men were pronounced dead at the scene, while the remaining two were rushed to the hospital in critical condition.
Provincial Commissioner of Police in Gauteng, Tommy Mthombeni, strongly denounced the act of vigilantism and emphasized that those who take the law into their own hands will face severe consequences.
“Vigilantism is a serious criminal offense and will not be tolerated. Community members are urged to collaborate with law enforcement agencies instead of resorting to violence,” said Mthombeni.
All twelve suspects involved in the mob justice incident are now facing charges of murder and attempted murder. They are scheduled to appear before the Lenasia Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
Mob Justice Incident Averted in Limpopo
In a separate incident last month, police intervened to prevent a mob justice attack on a 28-year-old man in Hamuraga village under the Thohoyandou policing precinct in Limpopo.
Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba revealed that the victim was found with burn wounds and tied up under a tree, following a report of a potential mob justice incident in the village. He was later identified by his family and taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu highlighted the prevalence of vigilantism and mob justice in the country, with statistics indicating 372 cases of murder, 57 cases of attempted murder, and 156 cases of assault with intent to cause harm recorded between July and September 2024.
The Eastern Cape reported the highest number of cases, followed by Gauteng, Western Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal. The Police Commissioner in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, reiterated the importance of reporting criminal activities to the authorities instead of taking matters into one’s own hands.
