A Malawian man has been killed in a suspected mob-justice attack in Joburg's CBD.
|||Johannesburg - A Malawian man has been killed in a suspected mob-justice attack in the Joburg’s CBD.
The 23-year-old man was killed around 4am on Sunday outside a block of flats on the corner of Eloff and Salisbury streets.
The man was visiting his brother in the flats when he was attacked, said Johannesburg Central police spokesman Warrant Officer Xoli Mbele.
“The motive is unclear but it has been alleged that the man stole a cellphone from someone in the flats. But no one has come forward to say it was their phone stolen, so we can’t confirm this.”
Mbele said that when the group began attacking the man, four security guards tried to stop them and rescue him, but they were also assaulted by the mob.
“This is when they called the police because stones were being thrown at them, but they were not badly injured. The man was being beaten with sticks and stones. He was declared dead on the scene by paramedics,” he added.
Mbele emphasised that all who were involved, including those living in the flats, are Malawians.
Three were arrested in connection with the murder.
When asked how they were found, Mbele said members of the community recognised those involved and described them to he police. “We are hoping that the three men who were arrested will lead us to the others. A manhunt is under way for other suspects who took part,” he said.
Mbele said police were following up several clues, including CCTV footage. He added that police were also trying to understand how this happened because the CCTV monitors connected to the CBD were supposed to be monitored.
Mbele urged communities to refrain from mob justice and to allow the police to do their job.
“Mob justice leads to another case having to be investigated. Someone was murdered here and we now have to open a case of murder. When we find those responsible, we have to arrest them and charge them accordingly.”
The three men are expected to appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court soon.
Last month, a teenager was killed and three others were wounded in a mob-justice attack in Evaton in the Vaal.
The boys were accused by members of the community of being part of a gang that has been robbing, raping and terrorising the community since last year.
In February, four people were killed and four others injured in a spate of mob-justice attacks over five days across Gauteng. In one incident, a 27-year-old man was killed and his 29-year-old alleged accomplice badly beaten by a mob in Joburg’s CBD after allegedly robbing a store. Prior to this, the bodies of two men were found in the veld in Krugersdorp.
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The Star
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