Byline: Nonjabuliso Nhlambo
14 July 2025
Residents of the Azania section in eMbalenhle were picketing outside the Evander magistrates’ court on Thursday, 10 July 2025, demanding the release of two community members who were arrested on Wednesday, 9 July 2025, after being identified as suspects in a case of mob justice.
According to information received from the community members, the complainant was caught in a compromising act on 16 June 2025 by members of the community after stealing items from a resident in Azania; the angry mob then confronted him, and he allegedly took them to where he kept some of the stolen items and told them some were already sold.
The angry mob assaulted the alleged criminal, and he was later admitted to the hospital.
After his release from the hospital, a case was opened against two accused who were allegedly seen in a video assaulting the complainant.
“One thing affecting us in our communities is crime, and the perpetrators are being protected by the police and the law. We want the police to do their job so that we can support them too, and avoid taking the law into our hands”, said one of the community members.
Accused number two was granted R500 bail on condition that he would not contact the complainant in any way, and the state opposed the bail application for accused number one for verification status.
The matter was postponed to Tuesday, 15 July 2025.
