Two men suspected of rape were dragged from a police vehicle and stoned to death by a mob in Durban on Thursday, police said.
Captain Gugu Sabela said the two men were arrested on Thursday morning on charges of rape and serial rape.
The alleged rapists said they had firearms in the K section of Kwa-Mashu, where police then drove them.
"When police drove the men to the K section, a community mob took the men, who were handcuffed, out of the vehicle and stoned them until they died," said Sabela.
Four policemen were also stoned by the mob and suffered injuries.
Sabela said the police were unable to prevent the stoning because of the number of people involved.
"Police were outnumbered. It was mob, the whole community came out," she said.
Police are investigating a case of public violence.
No arrests have been made. - Sapa