From Suspected Burglar to Victim: Man Killed in Lebowakgomo Mob Attack

A suspected burglary in Lebowakgomo ended in a brutal death this week, as community members took the law into their own hands, resulting in a murder investigation being opened against them. The incident underscores the deadly consequences of vigilantism that police have repeatedly condemned.

According to Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, police officers responded to a complaint of malicious damage to property in Zone A. Upon arrival, they made a grim discovery: a man, believed to be middle-aged, lay severely injured after an apparent mob attack.

A Child’s Scream Triggers a Fatal Response

Preliminary investigations paint a chilling sequence of events. It is alleged that a child inside a home discovered the man damaging the ceiling. The child’s screams for help alerted neighbours and passersby, who quickly gathered.

The man reportedly fell from the roof during the confrontation. Instead of restraining him and calling the authorities, the enraged community members assaulted him. By the time police were notified and the man was rushed to a local hospital, it was too late. He was pronounced dead on arrival. His identity remains unknown.

Police Condemn Vigilantism, Open Two Cases

In a stark illustration of the complex legal aftermath, police have opened two separate cases. A case of malicious damage to property has been registered against the deceased for the alleged break-in attempt. Simultaneously, a murder case has been opened against the community members involved in the assault.

Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe issued a firm condemnation of the mob violence. “No one has the right to assault anyone, regardless of the nature of the offence. Anyone acting outside the ambit of the law will be dealt with decisively,” she stated.

The police are now appealing to the public for assistance in identifying and apprehending those responsible for the killing. The incident serves as a tragic reminder of how a community’s attempt to confront crime can itself become a serious criminal act, leaving two cases on the docket and a life lost.

{Source: Citizen}

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