Mob hacks businessman to death

2009-07-17 12:21

Durban - A man was killed on Friday morning by an angry mob who accused him of trying to kill women for muti in the Khoza area outside Eshowe, KwaZulu-Natal police said.

"We have been told that he has been killed because he tried to kill one of ten women who were collecting wood in the local bush," said Inspector Mbongeni Mdlalose.

The community members claimed that the businessman had allegedly tried to snatch the woman while she was in the bush.

"The community claim that the women managed to run to the main road and mobilised the community to catch the man. He was hacked and stoned to death."

Mdlalose said the community believed the man wanted to kill one of the women so that he could use her body parts for muti to boost his business.

Sixteen people had been taken in for questioning and arrests were imminent, he said.

"We don’t know at this stage whether all of them will be charged. Our members are currently busy questioning them," said Mdlalose.

The name of the businessman would be released once his next of kin had been informed of his death.

- SAPA