The killing of three alleged suspects at Matangari Tshakhuma in Mutale was soundly condemned by community leaders and the police.
Three alleged criminals were taken from their homes on Tuesday evening and made to point out where they had hidden suspected stolen property. That was around 19:30, when angry members of the local community hunted them down and brutally assaulted them. The three later succumbed to their injuries.
The three deceased, who were later identified as Mr Meshack Munyai (24) and Mr Azwinndini Mudau (30), both of Matangari Tshakhuma, and an unknown Zimbabwean, were accused of being responsible for several theft cases that were committed in the area.
A resident who did not want to be named said the people of the area were sick and tired of crime. "We have experienced so many acts of crime in this area. What makes it worse is that the culprits are known, but when they are arrested, the following day they are again roaming the streets freely and continuing where they left off. We are sick and tired of them, and what happened on Tuesday will serve as a deterrent and others will be afraid to commit crime," he said.
Community leader Mr Benedict Nalana of the Mutale Concerned Group and Care condemned the actions of the community members who had taken the law into their own hands. "We are all against the scourge of crime, but we cannot take the law into our own hands, especially taking the lives of suspects. Criminals deserve to rot in jail. They must be arrested and be taken to court and sentenced to jail terms and not be killed. We condemn this action in the strongest terms," he said.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, Lt-Gen Nneke Ledwaba, has also come out strongly against the actions of the community members who took the law into their own hands. He urged the local police to find the killers and bring them to book.
Limpopo police spokesperson Col Moatshe Ngoepe said cases of murder had been opened for investigation and called on anyone with information to contact the nearest police station or call the toll-free number 0860 010 111.