The number of mob justice-related murders in the Western Cape speaks to a deeply concerning trend in the province.
On Sunday, a 37-year-old man, who the Kraaifontein community believes committed a crime, was beaten to death in the area.
This comes less than three weeks after the mob killing of e-hailing driver, Abongile Mafa-lala in Parkwood.
According to Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC, Reagan Allen, these two incidents are just a drop in the bucket in comparison to the number of similar attacks recorded.
Between April 2021 and March 2022 at total 227 cases of murder were linked to vigilantism or mob justice,
With 60 of those reported between January and March.
Allen says under no circumstances does any person have the right to take the law into their own hands.
“We understand that there are many communities who are frustrated and might have a deficit of trust in SAPS, but deciding to effect justice by themselves, is just committing another crime. This is unacceptable. The continued increase in the statistics sketches a worrying picture”.
