By Lungani Zungu
A 33-year-old man became the victim of mob justice after he was allegedly caught raping a three-year-old girl.
The young girl from Umlazi H section was playing in her yard on Sunday when her neighbour Mlungisi Sibisi lured her into his one-room shack — where he allegedly raped her, then gave her R5 to buy chips.
The child’s mother told Scrolla.Africa that her daughter was playing in the yard while she was cooking in the kitchen.
“When I saw that she was no longer playing outside, my heart started pumping from the fear I felt. I feel like I’ve failed my daughter,” she said.
When she saw that her daughter was nowhere to be found she began a frantic search — going from house to house along with other residents.
Resident Thami Ngcobo, who spotted Sibisi taking the child into his shack, told the residents what he’d seen.
A mob quickly gathered and stormed into Sibisi’s shack, where they found the young girl inside with him.
The mob began to assault Sibisi, and his pleas for mercy fell on deaf ears as the beatings went on until he died.
“The young girl was still bleeding after the ordeal. She was carrying R5 in her tiny hands that Sibisi gave her after raping her,” said community leader Mxolisi Mbhele, who was part of the search.
Mbhele said he witnessed Sibisi being murdered. He said he tried to convince members of the mob to let the police deal with him.
“We tried to intervene and asked the residents to release the man to the police. But this did not help,” said Mbhele.
The girl, who will not be named for her own protection, was taken to Prince Mshiyeni Memorial hospital in Umlazi, where she is still receiving care.
Sibisi’s family flatly declined to comment on the matter.
The police confirmed the incident.
