N West mob justice accused in court

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Published Feb 12, 2014

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Rustenburg - Nine men accused of public violence relating to the death of three men in North West, appeared in the Bafokeng Magistrate's Court in Tlhabane on Wednesday, police said.

The case against the men, aged between 30 and 47, was postponed until February 26, said Brigadier Thulane Ngubane.

They were arrested on Tuesday and were taken into custody in Rustenburg, said Ngubane.

Three men were killed in separate attacks and properties were set alight in the Freedom Park informal settlement in Rustenburg.

Two of the victims were Lesotho nationals suspected of having been behind an attack on two men at a local tavern on Saturday, said Ngubane at the time.

One of the foreigners was caught by a mob on Sunday. He was taken to a tavern and burnt alive, said Ngubane.

The same mob also grabbed the second Lesotho man and stripped him naked. He tried to escape by running into a neighbour's shack but was caught and murdered. Both foreigners were found dead with stab wounds, Ngubane said.

The third victim, a local businessman, was killed on Monday because people suspected him of having harboured the Lesotho men.

About 5000 people looted his shop, set it on fire and killed him. Several shacks were also torched.

Sapa

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