By Doreen Mokgolo
Angry residents of Kanana, Limpopo, beat to death a man they suspected of being responsible for the disappearance of Isaac Ishmael Mbetheni.
The 40-year-old was the last person seen with Mbetheni, 44, who lived in Makushane Changani village.
Mbetheni was last seen on 30 March.
The residents assaulted the man before taking him to the headman’s home where he collapsed and died on Sunday.
Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said police from the Namakgale district were called to the headman’s residence where they found the badly assaulted victim.
“Emergency services were called and they declared the victim dead at the scene.”
Ledwaba said early investigations revealed that the community came together after they suspected that the deceased was involved in Mbetheni’s disappearance.
“Mbetheni reportedly went to the mining company’s dumping site in Phalaborwa to look for scrap metal but he never returned,” said Ledwaba.
“The mob assaulted and forced the deceased to the dumping site as they alleged he was the last person to be seen with the missing person. When they failed to locate the missing man, they decided to dump his body at the headman’s residence.”
Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, the Limpopo SAPS commissioner, condemned the mob killing and ordered an investigation into the murder.
Hadebe has urged residents not to take the law into their own hands but to report all criminal activities to the police.
Pictured above: Isaac Ishmael Mbetheni.
Image source: Supplied
