Mob stones, beats and burns suspected criminals near Fish Hoek
IN AN effort to rid Masiphumelele of social ills, residents have set their sites on tackling drug dealers.
This followed days of mob violence, during which two people were killed.
On Sunday evening the police struggled to enter Masiphumelele, near Fish Hoek, when residents blocked Myeza Road with burning barricades.
About 100 residents went on a rampage, attacking three men, of whom two were killed and a third hospitalised. Residents said the three were criminals. They were stoned, beaten and set alight.
Last week, following the rape of a 24-year-old woman and the rape and murder of a 14-year-old boy, residents killed an alleged criminal by setting him alight. They also torched a police van.
Residents said yesterday that Masiphumelele had become a hub for criminals.
Drug use was fuelling crime and the police had not been doing an effective job. This had left them little choice but to take the law into their own hands.
Police spokeswoman Constable Noloyiso Rwexana con- firmed that about 100 residents apprehended two men, aged 25 and 34, on Sunday.
“It was later reported that a 34-year-old was fatally wounded while the other one was seriously injured. The circumstances surrounding these incidents are being investigated.
“The motive is unknown at this stage. Cases of murder and attempted murder are under investigation. No one has been arrested at this stage,” she said.
Residents said they held a meeting last Monday after a 24year-old woman was raped and a 14-year-old boy was raped and murdered. At the meeting they decided to take action. Ward councillor Mzuvukile Nikelo agreed with the residents that the police had failed them.
“As a result, people have reached a point where they say enough is enough. People are really fed up. They are tired of being victims of drug addicts. That is why they are cleaning the area,” he said.
Acting provincial police commissioner Major General Thembisile Patekile said police had held talks with the community. He said they were treating the mob justice incidents as crimes.