KABOKWENI police in Mpumalanga had their hands full on Friday, 21 April, after six people perished in the hands of the community.
According to Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, police responded to a mob attack where two people were assaulted and died in Sifunindlela Trust near Bhuga.
“To the police's surprise, on their arrival, it was not only an attack on human lives but also a malicious injury to property whereby a house was burnt down.
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“Two victims were certified dead by medical practitioners on the scene and the third person was seriously injured and later succumbed to his injuries,” Mohlala said in a statement.
He said cops had difficulty getting the deceased to the mortuary as several community members crowded the scene.
Mohlala said whilst the police were still on the scene, they received a call that two other male bodies, aged 21 and 40, were found with multiple injuries in Khumbula at about 2 pm.
“Two hours later, police received another information about the sixth body which was found in the bushes at Clau-clau," Mohlala added.
He said unconfirmed reports linked the first three victims to an armed robbery at one of the liquor outlets in Emvangati and were allegedly identified by community members.
He said police could not link the other three murders to the robbery and hoped an intense investigation will reveal the cause.
Mohlala said cops have only identified two victims, and four remain unknown.
The Provincial Commissioner of Mpumalanga SAPS Lieutenant, General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, warned community members to refrain from taking the law into their own hands.
"Other people might be victimised for hidden agendas by their accusers and end up losing their lives for crimes they never committed," warned the General.
