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Police divers retrieved the body of a man who jumped into a river, together with his friend, as they were being chased by a mob.
His body was found by the police's Airwing, six days after the incident.
It was found five kilometres from the Nkomazi River, where he reportedly drowned.
The man, 27, and his friend jumped into the Nkomazi River on 17 March, allegedly to save themselves from an angry mob in Tonga.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said the incident could've been avoided.
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"The drowning of a 27-year-old male is regrettable, and police believe that it could have been avoided if people adhered to the call by police to refrain from any form of mob justice," said Mohlala.
Mohlala said the friend managed to swim to safety. The deceased lived in Kamhlushwa, and the friend at Mzinti.
"Currently, locating him (the friend) seems to be a challenge, and he is never at home. However, police managed to obtain his father's mobile number," said Mohlala.
Mohlala said police were investigating the circumstances surrounding the man's death, what led to the attack, and who was involved.
The acting SAPS commissioner in Mpumalanga, Major-General Zeph Mkhwanazi, said that, when there were suspicions of crime, community members should utilise police services and refrain from making decisions that might end up claiming people's lives.
