Cape Town - The Mitchell’s Plain Cluster Community Police Board has appealed for calm, following a mob justice killing this week amid fear and paranoia in communities after a number of reported kidnappings.
Parkwood residents set a man alight on Tuesday, alleging that he was attempting to kidnap children in the area.
According to reports three men were driving in a Toyota Avanza in the area when they were attacked by community members who then set the vehicle alight. Two of the men escaped.
It was initially reported that the deceased was an e-hailing driver. Uber on Wednesday said early indications suggest that the incident was not related to a driver operating on their platform.
“We have every right to be upset at the current state of affairs regarding crime and violence in our communities. Living under these circumstances is stressful, worrisome and traumatising. As-if this is not enough, what pushes our people further to breaking point is the constant social media onslaught of fake news, unverified crime reports and cases of missing persons and missing children resulting from ‘voluntary departures’ from home due to internal household conflict. Nevertheless, these voluntary departures should also be treated seriously since these individuals’ personal safety might by compromised while they are away from home and their loved ones,” the community police board said.
Equally troubling, it said, was communities acting with extreme prejudice to attack and/or kill innocent people who are falsely accused of being criminals.
“Destroying property and taking the life of someone’s mother, father, son or daughter and perhaps the breadwinner in the family, is horrible and does not serve justice in any way. In fact, it is an even greater crime with so many more victims as a result.”
Police in the province are still searching for several missing children, women and men.
Among them are Shireen Essop, 34, Kimberly Mubaiwa, 21, Vanessa Mubaiwa, 17, Ali Abuker, 17, and 2-month-old Kai-isha Maniers.
Cape Times