Police in Mpumalanga are investigating a series of brutal mob attacks that culminated in the deaths of six people in separate incidents that took place over a 24-hour period.
Mpumalanga mob attacks: Police search for links in three crime scenes
The killings took place in the Kabokweni area of the province, where the community allegedly took the law into their own hands.
In a statement, provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala revealed the first incident occurred in the early hours of Friday, 21 April 2023, in Sifunindlela Trust, a settlement situated next to Bhuga.
Two people were brutally assaulted and lost their lives, and a house was burnt down.
Medical practitioners on the scene certified two victims dead, and the third person was seriously injured and later succumbed to their injuries.
Mohlala explained the police had a difficult time getting the deceased to the mortuary “as a number of community members crowded the scene and obstructed police from performing their duties.”
While police were still on the scene, they received a call that two other bodies, a 21-year-old and a 40-year-old male, were found with multiple injuries in Khumbula at about 14:00.
Two hours later, the police received another call about the sixth body, which was found in the bushes at Clau-Clau.
Investigations are still early but according to Mohlala, police suspect that the first three victims were suspects in an armed robbery that took place at a liquor outlet in Emvangati.
The community allegedly identified the suspects, which resulted in the deadly mob attacks.
At this stage, however, Mpumalanga police cannot link the other three murders to the robbery.
Only two victims have been identified so far, and the other four remain unknown. The police have appealed to anyone who may have information about the incident to come forward and assist with the murder investigations.
The Provincial Commissioner of Mpumalanga SAPS, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, issued a stern warning to community members to refrain from taking the law into their own hands and allow justice to take its course.
“Other people might be victimised for hidden agendas by their accusers and end up losing their lives for crimes they never committed,” the General warned.