21 dead in Transkei mob attacks this year.
ANOTHER two young men died at the hands of an angry mob on Tuesday, this time in Elujecweni village in Ngqeleni, about 10km from Mthatha.
Their deaths bring to three the number of people killed in mob-related attacks in Ngqeleni in the last three weeks after 68-year-old Woodman Nomnqathe died in Njwezeni village at the hands of angry villagers who had accused him of stealing more than 30 sheep on November 1.
The Dispatch can reveal that more than 21 people have died in mob killings in the former Transkei region, including Mthatha, Lusikisiki, Bizana and Ntabankulu, since the beginning of this year.
Mthatha police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela said they were worried about the growing incidences of people taking the law into their own hands.
“We urge them to report criminals to the police so they can follow that up instead of dishing out mob justice.
“If you take the law into your own hands, you will be arrested, convicted and jailed. You will be treated like a criminal yourself if you kill someone,” he said.
Fatyela confirmed the deaths of two men, aged 23 and 27, at the hands of a mob, saying everything, including sticks and stones, had been used to kill the two men. He was unable to provide their names or the motive for the attack at the time of going to print yesterday.
He revealed police had opened murder cases following their deaths. No arrests have yet been made in connection with the is latest attack.
A resident from the village yesterday said told the Dispatch that the two had been hunted down by the community after they allegedly robbed and stabbed another villager during a housebreaking incident on Monday night.
The man was reportedly rushed to hospital after sustaining serious stab wounds, according to the villager.
She said an infuriated mob had launched a manhunt for three men believed to have been behind the attack. The two men were found and then allegedly kicked, punched, stoned and beaten with sticks and steel rods for hours until they died.
The resident also claimed the victims were part of a notorious gang that had terrorised the Elujecweni community for many years. “Crime has reached alarming levels in this area and sadly the police have not done anything to address that. Many cases have been opened but they never go anywhere,” she added.
When the Dispatch visited the village yesterday, residents gave conflicting versions of how the attack unfolded. Some said they had heard the two were killed while walking in the village, while others said they were hunted down and brought back to the village.
All those interviewed claimed they had not witnessed the incident and had either heard the story from their neighbours or young children.
An old man interviewed by the paper said he was not surprised people took the law into their own hands as crime was out of control in the village. “People’s houses are burgled left, right and centre,” he said.
Fatyela urged the community to work in partnership with the police to rid the area of any criminal elements. “Police are on hand to help but people must also come forward with information.” — sikhon@dispatch.co.za
Mvandedwa Keyizana, the headman of Elujecweni, decried incidents of mob justice saying villagers needed to report crime to the police.
Two more killed at hands of community
ANOTHER two young men died at the hands of an angry mob on Tuesday, this time in Elujecweni village in Ngqeleni, about 10km from Mthatha.
Their deaths bring to three the number of people killed in mob-related attacks in Ngqeleni in the last three weeks after 68-year-old Woodman Nomnqathe died in Njwezeni village at the hands of angry villagers who had accused him of stealing more than 30 sheep on November 1.
The Dispatch can reveal that more than 21 people have died in mob killings in the former Transkei region, including Mthatha, Lusikisiki, Bizana and Ntabankulu, since the beginning of this year.
Mthatha police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela said they were worried about the growing incidences of people taking the law into their own hands.
“We urge them to report criminals to the police so they can follow that up instead of dishing out mob justice.
“If you take the law into your own hands, you will be arrested, convicted and jailed. You will be treated like a criminal yourself if you kill someone,” he said.
Fatyela confirmed the deaths of two men, aged 23 and 27, at the hands of a mob, saying everything, including sticks and stones, had been used to kill the two men. He was unable to provide their names or the motive for the attack at the time of going to print yesterday.
He revealed police had opened murder cases following their deaths. No arrests have yet been made in connection with the is latest attack.
A resident from the village yesterday said told the Dispatch that the two had been hunted down by the community after they allegedly robbed and stabbed another villager during a housebreaking incident on Monday night.
The man was reportedly rushed to hospital after sustaining serious stab wounds, according to the villager.
She said an infuriated mob had launched a manhunt for three men believed to have been behind the attack. The two men were found and then allegedly kicked, punched, stoned and beaten with sticks and steel rods for hours until they died.
The resident also claimed the victims were part of a notorious gang that had terrorised the Elujecweni community for many years. “Crime has reached alarming levels in this area and sadly the police have not done anything to address that. Many cases have been opened but they never go anywhere,” she added.
When the Dispatch visited the village yesterday, residents gave conflicting versions of how the attack unfolded. Some said they had heard the two were killed while walking in the village, while others said they were hunted down and brought back to the village.
All those interviewed claimed they had not witnessed the incident and had either heard the story from their neighbours or young children.
An old man interviewed by the paper said he was not surprised people took the law into their own hands as crime was out of control in the village. “People’s houses are burgled left, right and centre,” he said.
Fatyela urged the community to work in partnership with the police to rid the area of any criminal elements. “Police are on hand to help but people must also come forward with information.” — sikhon@dispatch.co.za
Mvandedwa Keyizana, the headman of Elujecweni, decried incidents of mob justice saying villagers needed to report crime to the police.
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