The mob justice related incident that left two people dead in the Mbabalane Locality on Friday, April 7 at approximately 22:00, resulted in the arrest and detention of ten suspects at Port St Johns Police Station.
According to police information, the incident was sparked by one of the deceased that allegedly stabbed a patron at a local tavern. This led to him being assaulted with sticks by other patrons until he died of injuries sustained. The 57-year-old mother of the deceased, who tried to intervene during the assault on her son, was also shot and killed at the scene.
Provincial police spokesperson, Brig. Tembinkosi Kinana, said that police were called to the scene and they managed to arrest ten men implicated in the double murder.
“The incident of mob justice is the second after two young men were burnt to death in Bityi last week by members of the community. Subsequently, four suspects were arrested and appeared in the Bityi Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, April 6. Their case has been remanded to April 12, 2023,” Kinana said.
Provincial Police Commissioner, Lt. Gen. Nomthetheleli Mene, has expressed shock and concern at what seems like an emerging and unrelenting culture of vigilantism within communities.
“We have on numerous occasions warned people to refrain from taking the law into their own hands, but some people have chosen to ignore our call. Therefore, we have had no choice but to arrest those who set a bad example within the communities. There is law to be respected in our province and for this reason, those who undermine it will simply face the consequences,” she said.
The arrested suspects, aged between 28 and 48 years, are expected to appear in Port St Johns Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, April 11 on murder charges.
