Ubombo - Eight people appeared in a KwaZulu-Natal court on Friday for allegedly beating a suspected thief to death in what police believe was a case of mob justice.
The men were arrested on Thursday following a police search for a missing man, Sandile Nxumalo, 24, who disappeared in the Olakeni area in Mbazwana.
“Following an intensive investigation police discovered that Nxumalo had been murdered. This resulted in the arrest of the suspects, who led the investigating team to a shallow grave where they had buried Nxumalo,” police spokesman Colonel Jay Naicker said.
“It is alleged that the victim was assaulted to death and buried in a shallow grave after he was accused of theft.”
The suspects, aged between 19 and 52, were charged with murder.
KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Mmamonnye Ngobeni condemned the murder.
“I urge the community to refrain from taking the law into their own hands because we will not hesitate to put them behind bars,” said Ngobeni.
“I wish to once again appeal to our community to report criminal activities to police so that criminals can be arrested and prosecuted.”
ANA