A GROUP of angry men have warned that blood will spill to anyone who tries to commit crime in their area.
On Sunday morning, a suspected thug was stoned and burnt to death at a squatter camp near Organic Market in Alexandra, Jozi.
He was accused of accosting a woman and robbing her of her cellphone and money at knife point.
According to residents, at about 4am, the woman screamed for help and the alleged thug was cornered and found in possession of the woman’s cellphone and another suspected stolen cellphone including money.
A male resident said: “For far too long we have been tormented by thugs. House breakings and theft are very high in the area. As men of this community, we have taken it upon ourselves to protect our women and children because cops are failing us. We have our WhatsApp group and a rotational patrol system in place.
Another male resident said: “You steal, you die is that simple. Thugs can’t continue treating this area as their playground. We are not here by choice but circumstances. We all want to stay in suburbs with tight security.”
Another male resident: “We will not hand over any thug to the police station because tomorrow we see them roaming around the streets.”
Police were allegedly thrown at with stones and sticks by the mob when they arrived at the scene. However, police could not confirm these claims.
Provincial police spokeswoman Colonel Dimakatso Sello said: “An adult male was reportedly burnt to death by community members after being accused of being a thief. No one was arrested and a case of murder is opened for investigation.”
These acts of crime have been quite popular in Alexandra.
-In October 2019, two people were assaulted and burnt to death in what is believed to be an act of mob justice. The men were alleged to have been involved in robbery.
-In June 2019 the Alexandra community burnt to death a man they believed was a serial rapist who had been terrorising them.
