Residents of Mfuleni in Cape Town have allegedly assaulted and severed the fingers of four suspected thieves accused of stealing clothes from washing lines in the area.
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According to News24, Western Cape police are investigating the murder of a 25-year-old man found dead in the Covid informal settlement on Friday.
Western Cape police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm Pojie said that three others, between the ages 20 and 25, were ‘transported to a medical facility’ after a mob allegedly assaulted them after ‘being accused of committing crime in the community’.
Bulelwa Ncukana, a 42-year-old Mfuleni resident who witnessed the incident, stated that the four men were severely beaten after being caught stealing clothes from a washing line at a resident’s home.
She said the residents cut their fingers off to prevent them from stealing again.
‘There was blood everywhere, and the four men were begging the residents, promising they wouldn’t steal again,’ Ncukana added.
Ayanda Ndimande, a 35-year-old resident of the Covid informal settlement noted that residents were fed up with thieves acting with impunity.
‘It has become almost impossible to do washing and hang clothes out on the washing line over the past year.’
‘They said they were teaching them a lesson not to try this again, and they were sending a message to other criminals not to come and play in Covid.’
Ndimande said residents have had to guard their washing lines and mentioned thieves had stolen her husband’s shoes.
Ndimande said she took a nap and woke up an hour later to find her husband’s shoes gone.
‘My husband has only one pair of shoes left now. Imagine if I had washed mine and my two children’s shoes as well – the whole family would be walking barefoot.’
Khaya Ntlabati, a 40-year-old resident, added that locals frequently complain about thieves stealing clothes from washing lines.
‘We don’t know if these thieves sell the clothes or wear them because they take everything, including clothes for newborn babies,’ added Ntlabati.
She said residents were pleased they managed to catch the thieves responsible for stealing their clothes, as it provided some relief from the ongoing problem.
Potjie told News24 the incident’s circumstances and motive are under investigation, so he could not comment on the vigilante attack.
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Picture: Gallo