The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi has strongly condemned incidents of vigilantism after two young men, aged 17 and 18 were brutally killed in Kwamhlanga this week. It is alleged that certain groups of community members took the law into their own hands after accusing the two victims of committing crimes.
According to the information, on Monday, 13 March 2023 around 19:50 the Police at Kwamhlanga received a message about some members of the community who had converged and proceeded to Suncity A in Kwamhlanga where they were allegedly looking for so-called suspects who could have been behind the murder of a 30-year-old man at a certain tavern in Zakheni Section, Kwamhlanga on Saturday night, 11 March 2023. Nhlakanipho Mtshweni (17) was allegedly captured at his friend’s residence together with the friend. It is said that the two individuals were then allegedly assaulted but Mtshweni’s friend sustained serious injuries then taken to the hospital for medical treatment.
The police at Kwamhlanga as well as Paramedics were alerted about the incident and upon arrival of the police, the group fled the scene. The victim’s lifeless body was found with injuries and Emergency Medical Services personnel sadly certified him dead. A murder case was opened and an investigation is already underway. No one has been arrested so far.
Meanwhile, on a separate yet similar incident, it is reported that in the early of Sunday, 12 March 2023 around 01:20 am, an 18-years-old Karabo Bosoga was assaulted and killed allegedly by a group of members of the community as well at Kwamhlanga.
Details of the incident indicate that the victim was with his friend when they were grabbed by the group after being accused of housebreaking and theft. Bosoga’s friend somehow managed to escape but Bosoga was unlucky as he was assaulted and unfortunately succumbed at the scene.
Police at Kwamhlanga were alerted about the brutal incident and a murder case was opened. No one has been arrested yet also in this case but the investigation is continuing.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi has also urged members of the public to share information about any criminal activities with the authorities rather than resorting to acts of mob justice.