Carlo Petersen and Precious Nzimande
THE
suspected rapist of a seven-year-old girl, her uncle, was killed in one of two incidents of mob violence in three days in the Marikana informal settlement in Philippi East.
Community members took the law into their own hands after hearing of the rape at 10pm on Sunday.
Police spokesman Londumiso Paul confirmed that the 29-year-old uncle was stoned to death. “Police (tried) to stop the stone-throwing, but we were also attacked.”
Murder and public violence charges are being investigated.
Marikana resident Colin Maxwell, 26, witnessed the stoning:
“We all knew that guy. He tried to get away, but they caught him and started throwing big stones at him. It lasted a long time and even the police couldn’t do anything because the people were so angry.”
On Friday Lubabalo Ntame, 17, was beaten to death after being accused of robbing Zanele Phalela, 21, of her cellphone.
Phalela said Ntame approached her with a friend to ask the time, but when she took her phone from her bag he snatched it and fled.
Alerted by her screams, residents gave chase and caught Ntame who was beaten with fists and sticks.
Police helped to rush him to hospital where he later died.