CAPE TOWN - Police have not yet made any arrests in connection with the deaths of at least eight people killed in mob justice attacks in informal settlements last week.
Mob justice incidents were reported early last week in Mfuleni and Samora Machel. On Friday, a teenager alleged to have been robbing an elderly woman, was attacked in Marikana and made a narrow escape.
Police spokesperson Novela Potelwa confirmed that the body of a 15-year-old Osanela Wanga, involved in the Mfuleni attack, was discovered on Friday.
She said no one has been taken in for questioning in relation to the recent mob justice incidents.
Covid-19 informal settlement Community Leader Patrick Silwana called for police visibility in the area.
“The river has become a dumping site for dead bodies. Almost every weekend people die here and their whereabouts are not known. We have held meetings with the community members urging them to report such incidents but we have made no progress in that so far,” said Silwana.
A family member of one of the victims, Maphelo Mazamisa whose body has not yet been found after allegedly being dumped in the river, said they had hoped that they would soon have closure.
“This gives me hope that my brother's body will be discovered, we just have to be patient and let the police do their work,” said Siyasanga.
Political commentator and analyst Jamie Mighti said the DA-run province has not done anything noteworthy in improving the living conditions of people in Langa, Khayelitsha, Gugulethu and the Cape Flats.
“The price of property is preposterous, its exclusive and its exclusionary. This is evidence that the government of the province has failed to create affordable housing conditions. Twenty-three percent of all murders were committed in the province in 2019. Nine out of the top 25 stations where murder was reported were in the Western Cape. There is a massive crime problem in the Western Cape particularly in Cape Town. There is a narrative that it is better governed but the reality for the majority is worse,” said Might.
Cape Times