A 32-year-old man was beaten to death by a mob on Sunday after he injured two people when he fired shots during a confrontation in Diepsloot, Pretoria police said on Monday.
Elvis Ramoloyi and his brother were driving past Diepsloot, south of Pretoria, shortly before 7pm on Sunday when two pedestrians apparently distracted the driver's attention from the road.
The two made as if to walk in front of the Citi Golf the brothers were travelling in, said police spokesperson Inspector Anton Breedt.
The driver of the Golf reversed the car to where the two men were standing, and a confrontation ensued. Several other residents arrived later.
Breedt said Ramoloyi took out a firearm and fired several shots into the air, hitting two bystanders. One bullet grazed a man's head, and another man was shot in the forearm.
The bystanders then turned on Ramoloyi, beating and stoning him to death. His brother ran away, and the mob set fire to their car.
When police arrived at the scene, they could not find Ramoloyi's firearm. A murder docket has been opened.
The two injured men were admitted to a Johannesburg hospital in stable conditions, Breedt said. - Sapa