THEMBISA – In a tragic outbreak of vigilante violence, two men accused of criminal activities were fatally assaulted by a crowd in the Mpho Section of Thembisa late Monday evening.
The attack occurred on Quail Street, where emergency medical personnel arrived to find both individuals unresponsive. Paramedics confirmed their deaths at the location, with no signs of revival possible.
Authorities, including police units, responded promptly to reports of the disturbance. The remains of the deceased were transported to the Germiston government mortuary in the early hours of Tuesday morning for further examination.
Investigators have opened two separate murder dockets to probe the circumstances surrounding the deaths. Details about the identities of the victims or the specific allegations against them remain undisclosed as the inquiry progresses.
Community tensions in areas like Mpho Section have occasionally led to such incidents, though officials emphasize that legal processes must handle suspicions of crime to prevent loss of life. No arrests have been reported in connection with the assault at this time.
Mob justice remains a serious and persistent problem in South Africa. According to the Institute for Security Studies, at least two people are killed every day countrywide through mob violence or vigilante actions. Between 2019 and 2022, at least 1,202 reported killings were linked to mob justice. In 2022, out of more than 27,000 murders recorded nationally, approximately 1,894 cases — roughly 7% — were attributed to mob justice and vigilantism. Separate forensic mortuary studies have shown that mob justice deaths consistently make up around 1.27% of all unnatural deaths examined annually.
