Cape Town - An alleged thief is fighting for his life after a mob forced him to drink a chemical used to clean porta potties.
Jerome van Rooyen was rushed to Tygerberg Hospital after he was found lying in the street, nearly unconscious and with blood streaming from his nose and mouth.
The 21-year-old was left to die tied to a pole after his attackers had tortured him by pouring boiling water over his body and forcing him to drink a chemical substance.
The gruesome attack happened in Enkanini informal settlement in Khayelitsha on Sunday night.
Van Rooyen’s family said that his attackers accused him of breaking into a house and stealing CDs.
His mother, Anita van Rooyen, who admitted that her son was a thief, said a neighbour came to tell her the Van Rooyen was being beaten up by an angry mob.
“I thought it’s just a normal punishment,” said Anita.
“But when I went to where he was lying, I thought he was already dead. His bruised face and body was burnt with water, he was weak and couldn’t stand up.
“He only opened his mouth and told me he was beaten by a crowd and they forced him to drink a chemical used for the portable toilets.
“Yes, my son is naughty, he steals because he is mixing with the wrong crowd, but he did not deserve such treatment from other humans.
Workers who clean porta loos say the chemical is so dangerous they are required to wear gloves and gumboots when working with it.
“The chemical is meant to dissolve the faeces into a liquid form,” one woman said.
Police spokesman Lieutenant Siyabulela Vukubi said that no charges have been laid yet, and she urged Van Rooyen’s mother to open a case.
“They must bring with them the doctor’s medical report and a case will be opened,” said Vukubi.
Daily Voice