HAZYVIEW - The Provincial Commissioner for Police, Lt Gen Mondli Zuma, has issued a stern warning to community members not to take the law into their own hands. This comes after a man was set alight in an apparent act of vigilantism on Saturday, August 10, in Alexandria Trust, Marite, near Hazyview. The incident was allegedly in retaliation for the murder of a 13-year-old boy, whose body parts were discovered in a fridge at the man’s house.

The boy allegedly went missing on Friday, August 9, upon which the community immediately launched a search. The child’s body was discovered in an open field with some of its parts missing. Two boys allegedly informed the community that they had spotted the boy in the company of the man, who is well-known in the area. Community members then apparently accosted and brutally assaulted the suspect, after which he was set alight. He died on the scene.

Police were alerted about the incident but, upon arrival at the scene, they were also attacked by the mob as they tried to secure the scene. Zuma urged people to report incidents of crime to the police and let the law take its course. “Vigilantism will not be tolerated nor accepted as a way of dealing with crime. Anyone found to have participated in such acts, will be arrested and will face the full might of the law,” he said. 

Anyone with information that might assist police in their investigation into this incident is urged to contact Col Dudu Shabangu on 082 469 2569.

Editor: Anchen Coetzee
Subeditor: Lynette Brink
Submitted by: Brig Leonard Hlathi