Residents Kill Bottle Store Thief, Steal Liquor After Crime

Community members killed a Limpopo man on Tuesday morning after he was accused of stealing alcohol from a local bottle store in Nkomo Village in Giyani.

The 32-year-old victim, known as Jabu Shilubane, was allegedly accused by the local community of stealing booze from a bottle store in the region on Monday night, police spokesperson Motlafela Mojapelo said.

He verified that a murder investigation had been launched.

"The victim was apparently spotted by community members who blocked the road, pulled him out of his vehicle and drove it to a nearby sports ground," Mojapelo said per IOL.

Mojapelo said per News24 that the residents pulled the victim out of his vehicle and drove it to the nearby sports ground.

"They then allegedly started assaulting him and later burned him to death. They thereafter allegedly looted the liquor and also torched the deceased's motor vehicle," Mojapelo added.

Later, the liquor store's owner stated that he had filed a business burglary report with the Giyani police station.

Anyone with information that could lead to the suspects' arrest is asked to call Captain Khazamula Mchabi at 082 729 0343 or Crime Stop at 08600 10111.

Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, the Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, has denounced this act of mob justice and advised communities against taking the law into their own hands.

Following the arrest of former President Jacob Zuma last week, at least 45 people have been killed across South Africa due to public violence and widespread looting.

More than 30 lorries were set ablaze in Kwazulu-Natal, where the violence began. The sporadic violence has extended to neighboring provinces, including Gauteng.

SABC also said three men are scheduled to be sentenced by the High Court in Polokwane, Limpopo, for the death of six persons after they petrol-bombed a bus carrying Modikwa platinum mine workers.

In April 2018, another 47 individuals were injured in the attack.

The court was notified by one of the convict's defense attorneys that they planned to summon witnesses in reduction of the punishment.

On the other hand, the state has suggested that it will invite certain survivors to testify in order to increase the punishment.