Several cases of mob justice in Lejweleputswa have raised the alarm, and police are warning that vigilantes will be hunted down, apprehended, and criminally prosecuted.
Capt. Stephen Thakeng, media liaison officer for the Lejweleputswa police, says an incident that occurred in Bronville in November 2022, when the community attacked a man accused of raping a 15-year-old girl, was particularly alarming.
“The man was badly beaten by angry community members, and he had to be rescued by the police who were then also attacked by the residents of Bronville. The man was admitted to ICU and fought for his life after he was wrongly accused,” says Thakeng.
Another incident occurred in January 2023 where residents of Thabong assaulted and burnt a man who was accused of attempting to rape a 17-year-old girl.
The victim was found lying on the ground. He was naked and had severe injuries to his face and head, and blood was coming out of his mouth. He had sustained burn wounds to his private parts and also his abdomen.
“Mob justice is a criminal offence. The South African police service members are trained and competent to prevent, combat, and investigate crime. They too are being attacked when attending mob justice cases. The police mandate is to protect every citizen in the country.
“Mob justice is not the solution and will not be tolerated. Communities are supposed to be the eyes and ears of the police, and residents are therefore required to report criminals to the police for further action to be taken and not to take the law into their own hands,” says Thakeng.
The acting district commissioner of Lejweleputswa, Brig. Mzondi Mojafi, has strongly condemned these senseless attacks and has sternly warned that those responsible for mob attacks, will be hunted down, arrested, and criminally prosecuted.
