By Kopano Dibakwane
Separate cases of alleged mob justice reported by police in the areas of Mjejane near Komatipoort, Marite in Bushbuckridge and Lyndenburg, in which seven people reportedly lost their lives this week, were highly condemned by Mpumalanga MEC for DCSSL(Community Safety, Security and Liaison)-Vusi Shongwe.
Shongwe welcomed the participation of community patrol teams in assisting police to fight crime, but warned against people taking the into their own hands.
” Communities must report crime and also act as informants because they are not trained to apprehend crime suspects. Taking the into their own hands is a criminal offence, and those who engage in mob justice are liable for prosecution.
” We have the Community Policing Forum(CPF) structures. Therefore, people must work with the police through these structures in order to prevent crime. All forums that participate in crime prevention must do so within the ambit of the law,” said Shongwe.
