May 19 2011
A Brazzaville resident yells at a suspected thief as the man is escorted to a police van after being stoned and whipped by a crowd of angry residents.
A man alleged to have tried to steal a garden gate off its hinges outside a shack in a squatter camp near Atteridgeville was attacked by a mob alerted by the homeowner’s screams for help.
The man, who was struck by stones, was rescued by police who spotted the commotion as they were driving past on patrol through the squatter camp.
The 30-year-old man, who is from Atteridgeville West, is believed to have been seen by the homeowner as he walked out of his home in the Brazzaville squatter camp to go to vote.
Community members who responded to the man’s calls for help allegedly stoned the man before apparently whipping him. It is understood that people were whipping the man when the police patrol drove past.
Atteridgeville police station spokesman Captain Thomas Mufamadi confirmed the attack and said the man was rescued before being arrested for the alleged attempted theft.
He said the man had severe head injuries and was taken to Kalafong Hospital, where he was being treated under police guard.
“At the moment no one has been arrested for the attack, although we are hoping to make arrests soon,” Mufamadi said.
“We are appealing to anyone with information on the identities of the suspect’s attackers to come forward and talk to the police.
“We are also appealing to people not to take the law into their own hands.
“If a person suspects someone of committing a crime they should rather call the police.”
Police were also investigating a case of assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm.
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