GQEBERHA – Police in Gqeberha are warning communities that there is no justification whatsoever in acts of mob justice and perpetrators of such crimes will face the full might of the law.

This warning emanates from incidents that occurred in Kwazakele and New Brighton over the weekend whereby people were attacked and died at the hands of the community in these respective areas.

It is alleged that on Friday evening, 6 May 2022 at about 21:30, SAPS Kwazakele attended to a complaint of mob justice in Tubali Street. A 28-year-old male was found badly assaulted and sustained burn wounds to his body. The victim was taken to hospital but later succumbed to his injuries. A case of murder is under investigation.

Also on Friday, 6 May 2022 at about 18:40, it is alleged that a bystander at a crime scene attempted to steal a cellphone of a murdered victim when other bystanders caught him and beat him with stones. As the police arrived to attend to the murder scene, the crowd dispersed. The beaten person was taken in a critical condition to hospital. A case of attempted murder is under investigation.

In another incident, the body of an unknown man was found on Saturday evening, 7 May 2022 at about 22:30, lying in the Nqadini Street in New Brighton with burn wounds and a stab wound on his body. Circumstances relating to his murder is unknown. The man was taken to hospital by a passing ambulance. A case of murder is under investigation.

Acting Nelson Mandela Bay District Commissioner, Brigadier Thandsiwa Kupiso has strongly condemned these senseless attacks and has warned that those responsible for these vigilante attacks will be hunted down and arrested. ‘Mob justice is not the solution and will not be tolerated. The communities are supposed to be the eyes and ears of the police and are required to report criminals to the police for further action and not to be the law unto themselves. Mob justice or vigilantism is tantamount to crime and those arrested will face the judicial system. We will not condone such callous acts of crime. We appeal to the communities to allow the justice system to deal with perpetrators and bring them to book,’ warned Brig Kupiso.

Source: South African Police Service