Thabong police condemns mob justice incident after man killed for ‘alleged stolen property’

The Thabong police has condemned a mob justice incident that claimed life of a 27-year-old man named, Bongani Phama, after he was beaten to death by an angry mob in Thabong on Sunday, 3 April.

The deceased was accused of stealing property of the arrested suspects.

It is reported that Phama was hit with a wooden sticks, garden spade while he was tied up on an electric pole.

He later passed on and a case of murder was open, after the police was informed about the incident.

In a released statement by the police, the mother of the deceased was phoned that her son was assaulted until he passed on.

“On the 3 April at about 20:30, Maria Lesia (42) residing in Thabong was apparently called about her son Bongani Phama (27) who was being assaulted.

“He was accused of stealing the property of the four known male persons residing in the same street in Thabong,” read a statement.

Lejweleputswa district police spokesperson captain Stephen Thakeng said, four suspects were arrested for murder.

“The three suspects aged 40 and 41 years old were arrested and the fourth one, who is 24 years old handed himself over to Thabong Police Station today on the 6 April 2022,” said Thakeng in a statement.

The police said these suspects will face charges of murder and they are set to appear before the Welkom Magistrate Court.

The deeply concerned Thabong police has cautioned members of the community to refrain from taking the law into their own hands.

Moreover, the District Commissioner of Lejweleputswa, Major General Lerato Molale also issued a sternly warned residents of Thabong not to undermine the authority of the law regulations, but they rather allow the wheels of justice to roll by reporting crime activities to the police.

“The four suspects arrested are now facing the full might of the law and we are going to ensure that we have a water tight case against them just to make example about them,” said Molale.