—‹Ž•Ž‡’†‡…„–›‡†…‘ƒ„––‘Ž‡ˆ –ŠͲ‹‡ˆ
SITEKI – A mob of about 60 residents of Lomahasha assaulted and killed a 51-year-old man on suspicion that he was a cattle rustler, while his accomplices fled to Mozambique.
The incident happened at Ebhandini under Lomahasha Umphakatsi on Monday morning. December Maliba, a family member, narrated how the deceased, David Maliba, reported that he was receiving threats on the day of his death, at the Lomahasha Police Station. December said they were still reeling from shock over the gruesome attack. He said the deceased got wind that he was implicated in cattle rustling but told his close friends that he was not involved in such a crime.
December stated that on Monday, upon his return from a personal errand, a mob broke down the door to the deceased’s house and heavily assaulted him. “He was my uncle and what hurts the most is that after being linked to cattle rustling, he confronted the people and told them that he was not involved. He further went on to report the threats to the police, but did not get help. It is unfortunate that the residents resorted to killing an innocent soul,” he said.
According to a source close to the matter, other community members called police officers from Lomahasha Police Station, alerting them about their suspicions in the cattle theft cases. The source confided that the farmers were angry as they lost over 30 cattle to the rustlers. He said some of the suspects fled to Mozambique after being alerted that the farmers were swooping on them. The source stated that the police arrived and took the deceased to the Good Shepherd Catholic Hospital (GSCH), where he was certified dead on arrival.
He shared that the police took some of the farmers for interrogation but later released them. “He was assaulted by about 60 farmers and the police released some of the implicated farmers in the mob attack. The farmers are fed up now as they have been losing their cattle since the past five years,” said the source.
Lomahasha Umphakatsi Bucopho Lucky Mahlalela said they would convene a meeting whereby the issue would be deliberated at length. “I have heard about the incident even though I am yet to get the finer details. A meeting will be called to address the matter of stock theft and the fact that people should desist from taking the law into their own hands,” he said. The Indvuna Yekhundla, Nkosingiphile Mphaphu shared the same sentiments, mentioning that he was yet to get a full report on the matter. Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati said police were still investigating the circumstances that led to the death of the 51-year-old man.
Worth noting is that mob attacks emanating from stock theft allegations are on the rise in the country. In February this year, a 55-year-old man of Mphaphati community, under Siphofaneni Inkhundla, was allegedly attacked and killed by a group of 15 community members, who had implicated him in stock theft. At least eight people have been arrested in connection with the mob justice that took place at Nkonka in Matsanjeni recently, where four men were killed.