The rising number of abductions in the Vhembe District has placed residents on high alert to protect their near and dear – especially their young children. Residents seem to have lost every shred of tolerance and mercy for the criminals who are making life hard for them. Unfortunately, this has also caused a rise in incidents of mob justice, with the risk of innocent people losing their lives.
Two alleged child kidnappers suffered the unfortunate wrath of angry community members last Friday as they were beaten and burnt alive inside their getaway car. They were accused of trying to snatch a young child from its mother while the two were crossing the road at Biaba.
According to eyewitnesses, the woman and her child were busy crossing the road in the Biaba business centre when two men in a white Nissan Tiida suddenly stopped next to them and tried to grab the child. The mother started to scream and succeeded in scaring the men away. They let the child go before they fled via the R523 route leading to Siloam village.
In the meantime, word had already spread and community members in Siloam started to block off the road. About 15 kilometres on, the suspects met their fate at the Mphephu Resort crossing, where a mob of angry community members were waiting for them. The two men were severely beaten before they were pushed back into the car, which was set alight with them inside.
Limpopo police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Malesela Ledwaba confirmed the incident. "Two males were attacked with a variety of objects and they were subsequently burnt in their vehicle. The two victims were declared dead at the scene." Ledwaba said the Mphephu SAPS were investigating the circumstances that had led to this incident. A case of robbery and two cases of murder were opened. At the time of our going to press, no one had been arrested yet.
This was the second incident in the space of three weeks involving abductors coming face to face with the Nzhelele community.
On 17 August this year, three suspects allegedly tried to kidnap a 23-year-old woman who was doing her shopping at the Mphephu Plaza in Siloam. The girl, who claims to have been drugged somehow, came to her senses just as the suspects were trying to put her into their car. She screamed and the suspects let her go and drove off in a Toyota Etios with a North-West registration plate. A chase ensued.
The suspects lost control of their vehicle about four kilometres down the road, the car overturned, and a crowd of angry community members overpowered and beat them. Two of the suspects were burnt inside the car, while the third suspect ran to the police. He was arrested and charged with attempted kidnapping and robbery.
He has appeared in court several times since and remains in custody. His case was postponed to 5 October for further police investigation.