Kaya News Reporter
Police are investigating a case of mob justice in Mamelodi, Tshwane that claimed the lives of two men.
Community members from Skierlik Mountain View informal settlement, collectively assaulted and burnt the men alive.
According to reports, five men were initially assaulted by community members after being accused of criminal activities.
The men are reportedly of Zimbabwean nationality.
Gauteng police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo condemned the incident.
Police were alerted about a group of around 1000 community members gathered near the railway in Mamelodi. SAPS and Metro Police were despatched to disperse the crowds where they found three men being beaten with stones.
Two men were set alight and were declared dead on the scene, while a third was taken to hospital.
“It is alleged the victims were assaulted by the community because they believed the men were committing crimes in the area. A case of murder and attempted murder is being investigated.” Masonda shared.
There are growing concerns over more acts of mob justice occurring as groups such as Operation Dudula continues its fight against illegal immigrants in the country.
Operation Dudula started in Soweto last year and spread into inner Joburg.
The group have made it their mission to clean the streets from illegal foreigners in South African townships. Claiming most criminal activity is committed by undocumented foreign nationals.
Dudula also protested against the preferential employment of migrant workers in South Africa.
In his address on Human Rights Day, President Cyril Ramaphosa said movements like Operation Dudula is contravening the law and sparking outright xenophobia.
“We cannot allow a situation where we are going to get people embarking on vigilantism to deal with a social problem. We must collectively as South Africans deal with it, and trust from government’s side, we will do our work,” the president said.
He called the situation a highly sensitive one and slammed the leaders of these movements for inciting violence at foreign-owned businesses.
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