Mob beats robbers to death

2010-03-15 16:10

Johannesburg - Mthatha residents have beaten to death two gunmen while they were allegedly carrying out a robbery with two others in Mandela Park on Monday, Eastern Cape police said.

"While the robbery was going on, the community came and began beating them with sticks, iron rods and pangas," Superintendent Mzukisi Fatyela said.

Four men entered a spaza shop in Mandela Park at 06:30. They held the owner and his wife at gunpoint and took R4 500, a DVD player and a cellphone.

"The woman began screaming and just before they attempted to rape her, community members stormed in and a confrontation with the robbers ensued."

The group beat the four severely.

"One robber died on scene, the second died at hospital and the remaining two are in a critical condition in hospital and under police guard."

Two pistols, the DVD player, cellphone and some money was recovered at the scene.

A short while later, police arrested three local residents.

"We are going to make more arrests. We don't encourage vigilantism and we want police and communities to work together and let justice take its course."
 

- SAPA