Police in Masisi Village, outside Musina, in Limpopo are the latest victims of mob justice in the province.
On Wednesday, they came under attack from angry community members who stoned the local police station, demanding the release of 19 people arrested for alleged public violence and murder.
The suspects were arrested after four people were stoned to death and their homes set on fire in the area on Monday evening.
The deceased were accused of involvement in the disappearance of a 24-year-old man, who residents believe is a victim of a ritual murder.
One person has been arrested for Wednesday’s attack on the Masisi police station – breaking some windows.
The Limpopo police commissioner, Lieutenant Gneral Nneke Ledwaba has slammed the incident.
The provincial transport and community safety department has also expressed disappointment in the community members’ actions.
It says it has conducted various campaigns in a bid to discourage them from taking the law into their own hands.
On Sunday, a 43-year-old man was also set alight outside Tzaneen.
In 2019, Ledwaba expressed concern over residents taking the law into their own hands.
He said mob justice doubled murder incidents in the province.
Calm has returned to Shallcross in Durban, where residents had run-ins with police officers on Monday.
Community members discharged firearms upon seeing police who had responded to a mob justice incident in the area.
Police called for reinforcement and dispersed the crowd successfully.
Residents had apparently apprehended two men suspected of having killed alleged drug lord, Yaganathan Pillay.
Pillay, who was affectionately known as Teddy Mafia, was gunned down at his home a few minutes after the two men allegedly arrived for a meeting.
He had alerted his daughter, who was with him at the house, about the visit.
According to the police, she heard gun shots a few minutes after the arrival of the guests and when she went to check what had happened – her father was on the floor.
Pillay was rushed to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
After catching wind of the incident – community members accosted the alleged shooters. They were assaulted, shot at, beheaded and then burnt.
Durban Metro Police Spokesperson, Senior Superintendent Parboo Sewpersad, says the two victims are yet to be identified. Police are monitoring the situation and are investigating three cases of murder.
No one has been arrested for the fire-exchange between police and community members.
Zikalala weighs in
KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Sihle Zikalala, has condemned Pillay’s killing and that of the two men suspected of his death.
During a television interview on Tuesday, he urged community members to refrain from taking the law into their own hands.
Zikalala says drugs are an increasing problem and they are working activating a focused approach as parts of efforts to eradicate the scourge in the province.
Twenty one community members of the Gandlanani Village, outside Giyani, in Limpopo will be appearing before the local magistrate’s court today.
The 20 men and one woman are part of a group of residents who are said to have assaulted and burnt a local businessman yesterday.
They are facing charges of murder, public violence, arson and malicious damage to property.
Limpopo police spokesperson Brigadier Mojapelo has told Local Voices that the accused were initially charged with attempted murder, but that has now been changed since the passing away of the deceased.
The suspects also allegedly torched four vehicles, a business office and a house belonging to the owner’s parents.
The angry crowd accused the businessman, who succumbed to his injuries in hospital overnight, of involvement in the disappearance of a local young man.
The community had apparently consulted with a local sangoma, who blamed the deceased and two of his employees for the teenager’s disappearance.
Brigadier Mojapelo says charges are also being formulated against the traditional healer.
