Zandspruit: MEC ‘condemns’ deadly mob justice incident

Gauteng’s Community Safety MEC Faith Mazibuko has condemned the mob justice incident in Zandspruit, which led to the deaths of four people and left five others critically injured.

An angry group of about 200 community members in Zandspruit, Johannesburg, are believed to have fetched nine men from their homes, in the wee hours of Wednesday, 19 May 2021.

“It is reported that on Wednesday, at approximately 2am, a group of about 200 people went out to search for boys who were allegedly robbing the people in the area of Zandspruit,” said police spokesperson Capt Kay Makhubele, at the time.

The community members claim the men are behind some of the crime in the area and had decided to take the matter into their own hands, instead of counting on proper law enforcement.

“We condemn in the harshest terms the mob justice incident which led to loss of lives and leaving others injured in Zandspruit. These gruesome acts often leave communities traumatized and have long term devastating effects,” Mazibuko said.

MEC urges Zandspruit residents to ‘exercise restraint’

MEC Faith Mazibuko has further called on the Zandspruit community members to avoid vigilaintism, while acknowledging their grievances about police.

Like many other communities, Zandspruit residents are extremely unhappy with how law enforcement has handled the level of crime in the area, as well as their other pleas.

“We urge the community to remain calm and exercise restraint as we await the full report from the police and look for solutions to their problems.  While we understand that communities at times feel let down by law enforcement, we urge them to avoid  taking the law into their own hands and being in conflict with the law.” Mazibuko said.

DA spokesperson on community safety in Gauteng Michael Shackleton also condemned the behaviour of the residents.

“People should never take the law into their own hands. Everyone must comply with the constitution. They should give us case numbers if they feel police are not doing their job. People should be able to rely on their public representative instead of taking the law into their hands,” Shackleton said.