64-year-old Limpopo man became a victim of mob justice after community members from Ngove village in Giyani set him on fire after being accused of his wife’s disappearance and death.
The community members believed that he and his friend had a hand in his wife’s death.
The man’s house was also torched on Wednesday night around 8.30 pm.
Limpopo police commissioner General Nneke Ledwaba displeased by this act of mob justice condemned it “in the strongest terms”.
According to police spokesperson Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe, community members were vexed after the body of 60-year-old Phosa Egnes Maswanganyi, who went missing on Tuesday, 27 October, was found hanging from a tree in the nearby bushes.
“The residents then accused the deceased’s husband and his friend of being involved in her disappearance and death.
“Subsequent to that, they torched the husband’s two rondavel houses and thereafter set him alight. He was badly injured and taken to hospital.
“The Giyani police together with the Public Order Police unit responded quickly to the scene.”
“The crowd had already left and moved to the other house which they also tried to burn.
“The police responded swiftly and managed to stop them.
“At this stage, the situation is still quiet but the police unit is continuing to monitor the situation in case of any eventualities,” Ngoepe said.
Ledwaba said those behind the incidents of mob justice will be “hunted down and brought to book”.
Ngoepe also indicated that cases of arson and attempted murder were open.
“The police have launched a manhunt for the suspects involved in this matter.”
“Anyone with information that can lead to the arrest of the suspects, can contact Colonel Robert Mudau on 082 729 0351 or the Crime Stop number 0860010111, their nearest police station or MySAPSApp.
Ngoepe said investigations were ongoing.
