Johannesburg - A Joburg community who were apparently fed up with criminals in their area allegedly took the law into their own hands, killing two suspected thieves and leaving three others injured.
The five men - who allegedly stabbed another man in the area - were attacked at the weekend in Fleurhof, west of Johannesburg, said ER24 paramedics spokesman Russel Meiring.
“These five men had then been captured by the local community, assaulted and locked in a flat, which they then set alight,” he said.
Meiring said when paramedics arrived at the scene, firefighters were already trying to extinguish the fire.
“ER24 paramedics arrived on the scene at the block of flats to find fire services in attendance, battling the blaze (at) one of the flats,” he said.
Meiring said paramedics then found two bodies near the burning flats.
“One had sustained a stab wound to the back while the other had sustained serious burn wound.”
Both men were confirmed dead at the scene.
“The remaining three men were found with bruises and lacerations over most of their bodies.”
They were treated at the scene and were taken to a nearby hospital for further medical care.
Police were not immediately available for comment on Monday morning.
The Star