Everson Luhanga
Police have confirmed that the kidnapping suspect who was set alight and burnt to death in an act of mob justice in Cape Town on Tuesday was in fact innocent.
Residents in Parkwood intervened in an attempt to kidnap two young children, catching and brutally killing one of the suspects while the remaining two fled.
Grassy Park police station commander Colonel Dawood Laing told Daily Voice their investigations showed no proof of an attempted kidnapping.
“This is mass hysteria caused by social media and the spreading of fake news,” Laing said.
“We are just as worried about kidnappings, but if you look at the actual reported cases, you will see it’s not nearly as many as reported on social media.”
The commander urged the community against taking justice into their own hands adding that those involved in the mob attack will be arrested.
The violent scenes began shortly after a woman shared a voice note on WhatsApp explaining that three men tried unsuccessfully to kidnap her children.
She described the car the men fled in: a champagne-coloured Toyota Avanza.
Soon afterwards, a mob of angry residents found and cornered a car which matched the woman’s description.
In a video clip shared widely on social media, a group of angry residents are seen assaulting one of the occupants while others are seen tearing apart the car in an open field next to the M5 highway.
The victim was beaten and stoned by the mob while his car’s engine was torn out and its windows smashed. In the footage, members of the mob can be heard screaming that they won’t let their children be next.
Police have confirmed that both the victim and the car were then set alight, while the two other occupants managed to flee.
Western Cape provincial police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi, confirmed that one person has died from the injuries sustained in the attack.
Officer Swartbooi said Grassy Park police responded to a complaint earlier on Tuesday on the corners of Hyde Road and the M5, in Parkwood.
“Upon arrival at the scene, they found a Toyota Avanza in flames and the body of an unknown man, who died as a result of injuries sustained due to the fire.
“According to reports, three unknown males were driving in the area in a Toyota Avanza when they were attacked by community members who then set the vehicle alight.
Two of the vehicle’s occupants managed to escape and fled the scene.
“The suspects are yet to be arrested. The motive for the attack is unknown,” said Swartbooi.
“Grassy Park police registered a murder for further investigation.”
Image source: Kossyderrickent
