Hlokomelo Mabogale |
After the disappearance of a 25 year-old Mahlori Maluleka from Gandlanani village outside Giyani in Limpopo on Friday, 08 August 2020, on Sunday the community members went on a rampage.
They claimed they consulted a local sangoma about the disappearance of Maluleka and they were told that the brickyard business owner and his two employees were responsible for this dissapearnce.
The provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said the community cornered one of the employees and thereafter gathered at the local soccer ground.
“Subsequent to that, they assaulted, burnt and dragged him to the house belonging to the businessman’s mother where they torched it together with three vehicles which were parked inside the garage. No one was harmed.”
The community members moved to the businessman’s residence and threw stones at his double story house , damaging the electric fence and torched his 3 cars in the garage.
“The angry mob continued with the attack and burned the house belonging to a 51 year old employee.The brick yard was also burned and the injured victims were rushed to the hospital.” said Mojapelo
The police have already arrested 23 suspects and more are expected to be arrested. They will be facing charges of attempted murder, arson and malicious damage to property. The police said the search for the remaining suspects continues on Monday.
The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba strongly condemned the conduct of community members. He urged community members to assist the police in searching for the missing person and desist from taking the law into their own hands.