A 24-year-old man, accused of stealing clothes, was reportedly set alight and stoned to death in an alleged mob justice attack on Monday in Phillppi.
According to IOL, Samkelo Nyeka from Kosovo informal settlement was accused of stealing clothes in nearby Mesiya informal settlement.
His brother was also assaulted with a hammer after he was seen wearing alleged stolen clothes. He, however, managed to escape.
Nyeka’s mother was left devastated, saying although she knew about her son’s stealing tendencies, she never thought the residents would burn him alive.
Police are investigating, the report said.
This came a few weeks after police launched a manhunt for unknown suspects, who stoned a 43-year-old man to death and set him alight in Limpopo.
Sowetan Live reported that the attackers also damaged the deceased’s property, including a house and motor vehicles.
“The deceased was allegedly at home when a group of about six men arrived and started to assault him and damage his house, furniture and two vehicles. They thereafter took him to the nearby bushes and, jointly with other community members stoned and set him alight.
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