"Crime remains our number one enemy because many people continue to lose their loved at the hands of criminals, while others are dispossessed of their livelihoods. Communities should, therefore, work with government to fight crime and not become involved in vigilantism."
This is according to the Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Vusi Shongwe, who was reacting to the recent cases of the killing of people in the province allegedly as a result of mob justice in the Kabokweni policing precinct recently.
In the first incident, at Sifunindlela near Bhuga, two people lost their lives at the hands of the community. The angry mob went on to torch the house. The third person later succumbed to the injuries. Whilst police were still at the scene, they received a call that two other bodies, of a 21 year and a 40-year-old men, were found with multiple injuries in Khumbula.
On the same day, the body of the sixth victim was discovered in the bushes at Clau-Clau in the same policing precinct. Although it is not clear at this stage whether all these cases are related or not, the investigation by the police is already underway.
"We are once more pleading with members of the public not to take the law into their own hands. While we acknowledge that criminality remains a huge challenge, the criminal justice system should be given space to work. Communities must work with the police and report any criminal or suspicious activities," Shongwe says.
He is furthermore, calling on the police to thoroughly investigate crime so that suspects are brought to book.
Ends.
Issued by the Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison
Enquiries: Moeti Mmusi
Cell: 079 291 0664 or 084 411 3372
Or Kingdom Mabuza
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