A teenager, who evaded arrest after two of his alleged accomplices were arrested for a spate of armed robberies in Khayelitsha, couldn’t escape from his angry community.
The 18-year-old was battered to death in an apparent mob justice attack in Ekuphumleni on Wednesday morning.
Last Friday, cops swooped on a house and arrested two suspects, aged 19 and 22.
This after mense complained that three men had robbed them of their cellphones.
At the house, police came upon a stash that included police bulletproof vests and badges, cellphones, ID books, watches and a pile of bank and consumer cards.
The third alleged skelm was spotted by one of his victims in the early hours of yesterday morning, apparently stalking another victim, and the female resident ran and got some of the men in the community to sort him out.
The ouens chased the youngster to behind the Khayelitsha Community Centre where they beat him to a pulp and stoned him to death.
His body lay in the grass behind the community centre until yesterday afternoon when a morgue van came to collect him.
One angry woman said the laaitie had robbed her and her daughter.
But police say they can’t link the deceased to the other suspects.
Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk says: “The suspects that were arrested last week are still in custody. The victim that was fatally injured on Wednesday cannot be linked to the two suspects of last week.
“A murder case was opened for investigation.
He warned the community that taking the law into their own hands is a criminal offence.
“The people have the responsibility to report crime to the police. We understand the anger aggrieved people, but they should afford the accused person the opportunity to face the law.”
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or Lingelethu SAPS.