Several incidents of mob justice were reported in Vhembe the past week, and at least four people were killed after being pointed out as criminals by angry community members.
On Friday night, three suspected copper cable thieves (izinyoka) were hunted down by an enraged mob and burnt to death at Chavani village, near Elim. (See story on page …) The previous day, a suspect allegedly linked to the murder of a tavern owner of Elim was killed by a mob at Mpheni village.
The incident at Mpheni followed the killing of Andries Khomola, the owner of Elim Mutonga Vari Tavern, on 9 September this year. Khomola was shot and killed at his tavern. The police later arrested three suspects, who are now facing charges of murder and robbery. An alleged notorious and feared gang leader, Max Maphapu (52), along with Wisani Baloyi (25) and Pfarelo Mathavha (18), appeared in the Waterval Magistrate's Court on different dates between 14 and 19 September in connection with Khomola's death. Their cases were postponed to 22 September for bail application.
On Thursday, however, a mob formed at Mpheni village and the house and car of Maphapu, who is still in custody, were torched. The mob that formed seemed to be after Sedzani Godfrey Munyai, another suspect in the Khomola case, who has not been arrested yet. He was out on bail on another charge of murder and was supposed to be back in court on 16 September. Munyai was caught and beaten to death by the angry mob on Thursday before the police could get to him.
According to a community member, who did not want to have his name mentioned, the suspects were part of a group of criminals terrorising the community. "We are fed-up with the anarchy caused by these thugs. They have been terrorising us for a long time, and each time they commit a crime, they simply get returned to the community."
He said the community had decided to take the law into their own hands because they felt the police were not doing their job, so the mob assaulted Munyai. By the time he arrived at Elim hospital, he was certified dead.
"We are no longer safe in this community and we don't want these suspects to be given bail. If they are granted bail, they must just know that they will not be welcomed. They have to go somewhere else as we cannot guarantee their safety here," the source said.
The spokesperson for the Khomola family, Mr Thomani Tshimbiluni, said they were hoping the arrests made in connection with Khomola's murder would bring them closure. "We knew that something good would come out of this investigation, and within a short period of time, they came to inform the family that they have arrested the suspects. We are happy to know that we will find closure. And we received so much support from different people," he said.
The police spokesperson, Brig Motlafela Mojapelo, again appealed to residents to refrain from taking the law into their hands. He urged community members to refrain from engaging in criminal activities and encouraged them to continue working closely with the police.