Mob attacks must stop

An innocent child was tragically killed on Thursday when angry Dice township residents, outside East London, went on a rampage and set alight a house belonging to an ANC councillor.

This was because Ward 13 councillor Nokulunga Matiwane’s husband, Mabuto Matiwane, was arrested for allegedly killing Bulelwa Mpitipiti and Nomboniso Twana.

Mpitipiti died instantly after being shot twice in the head while Twana sustained to bullet wounds to her abdomen and was left for dead at Buffalo Pass Road on Tuesday. She survived the attack but succumbed to her wounds at Frere Hospital a day later.

Matiwane was arrested and appeared at the East London Magistrates’ Court on two counts of murder. Councillor Matiwane has also been arrested.

Angry residents petrol bombed the couple’s home – killing a teenager in the process. The physically disabled teen who could not escape the fire.

While it is understandable that the residents were angry, what is unforgivable is that in torching the Matiwane’s home, they ended up taking an innocent life.

This was an unnecessary death which could have been prevented had the livid residents exercised restraint. Now three people have died - with the Dice community committing a crime on top of another. And for that someone must be punished.

At the end of the day two wrongs do not make a right. If the courts find Matiwane guilty, he will do the time for his crimes.

Yesterday another group of residents voiced their anger when they protested in front of the East London City Hall, where the BCM council meeting was underway.

The protest was peaceful and incident-free, as the first one should have been. But now some of the residents might find themselves sharing a cell with criminals should they be arrested for the teenager’s death.

This is because South Africa, like other democratic states, is governed by laws. And one of the most important principles is that of an accused being assumed to be innocent until proven guilty.

Communities cannot be judge, jury and executioners – they need to allow the law to take its course – no matter how long the process takes.

At least Twana held on until she managed to give police a statement, fingering Matiwane as their alleged attacker. While the trial may be difficult because both women have died, the latter’s statement should form a large part of the state’s case.

Until the case has been finalised, the Dice community has to have faith in our judiciary and not take the law into their own hands.

We cannot allow vigilante killings as that would further sink South Africa deeper into the lawless society that it is fast becoming.