It is believed that Luyanda Sgqolana of Browns Farm robbed the bag of a woman at 5pm, on Friday, but the woman screamed for help and Sgqolana was caught by community members who beat him with stones.

Ntomboxolo Sitshitshi, a spokesperson for the Nyanga police said: “It is alleged that the deceased robbed a woman at Siyahlala Squatter Camp and was caught by community members who beat him with stones. Suspects at this stage are unknown and police are investigating a case of murder.”

Sitshitshi also said the deceased had faced two charges of rape and armed robbery in 2003, both of which were withdrawn.

Nyileka Sgqolana, an aunt of the deceased said: “He was a very problematic person with bad friends whom we did not know. He was always with them. He was robbing people of their belongings. When we asked him about it, he would deny doing anything wrong.”

The deceased moved from the Eastern Cape a few yeas ago. Not long after that he quit school and he was not working.

Sgqolana said: “We tried to advise him, but he would not listen to us. We did not expect that the ending would be like this, however.”

The family were called by community members to see the big stones near his head and his lifeless body in a pool of blood.

The community members also gathered around the police line to see for themselves the results of the street justice.

It is said the deceased was in a company of other man who ran away.