Mob Justice: Community Lynchings Without Trial Remain Commonplace in South Africa

Residents of Sebokeng township in southern Gauteng, South Africa, severely beat and subsequently burnt alive three suspects accused of stabbing a 29-year-old man to death as he was returning home from a local drinking spot on Sunday.

"The community was mobilized and went searching for the suspects. They found them hiding inside a container and took them to Sebokeng Zone-12 where they assaulted and burned them. All three vigilantism victims were certified dead on the scene. Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni has strongly condemned this act of vigilantism," said Gauteng police spokesperson Mavela Masando.

Police have opened a docket involving three counts of murder, with police who had arrived at the scene during the attack barred by the community from exiting their vehicle to help the suspects.

Images released after the attack show the side of a police vehicle smeared with blood, as the suspects attempted to receive aid from the officers inside the vehicle.

Mob justice attacks are not uncommon in South Africa, particularly in lower income communities where crime is rife. Residents, who feel as though they have been left behind by the country's security services oftentimes take justice into their own hands, as crime continues to decimate social cohesion in the country.

However, the establishment of the Government of National Unity (GNU) following the defeat of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) during the nation's May 29th election has brought about some change in the policing sphere–particularly in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).

Community trust in the South African Police Service (SAPS) remains low however, as corruption and mismanagement over the years has eroded citizen support for state security agencies, with many citizens opting to pay for services from private security companies.

In low income communities, there is little money available to pay for private security services, prompting residents to undertake their own form of policing and subsequent sentencing, as seen in this case.