Free State police spokesperson, Motantsi Makhele, tells OFM News that the incident stems from the robbery of a foreign national-owned shop in the area on Thursday morning, 4 March. According to Makhele, the shop was robbed at around 09:00 am on Thursday after which the two foreign national owners of the small shop alerted twelve more people to assist in hunting down the alleged robbers. 

The mob, armed with a slew of weapons such as knives, pangas, whips, spades as well as golf clubs, travelled together in a white Toyota bakkie in an effort to find the robbery suspects.

According to Makhele, the mob spotted one of the suspects near a local shopping complex and chased him towards Seotlong Secondary School. Education officials stationed at the school called police to assist. However, before law enforcement authorities arrived at the scene, the robbery suspect had managed to run from the mob.

The bakkie was later spotted around the area with the armed mob still in the back. They were stopped, promptly searched and arrested. Makhele says they will appear before the Tseki Magistrate’s Court on Monday 8 March 2021.

“We will not tolerate acts of vigilantism and mob justice as they distort our investigation into alleged crimes. We urge the community to come forward when they suspect or have evidence that a crime has been committed so we can investigate further,” says Provincial Police Commissioner, Baile Motswenyane.

OFM News