Community justice for suspected thief in Waterloo, KZN
A 31-year-old man was severely beaten by the community in Waterloo, KZN, after being found with stolen items from a crèche and a rented room.
The suspect had been hired to cut grass on the property and was paid R150 for his work.
After he left, it was discovered that the crèche and room had been burglarized, with items such as speakers, meat, blankets, a cellphone, cash, and ATM cards missing.
Residents launched their own investigation and found the suspect with some stolen property. He initially fled but was later lured to Verulam CBD under the pretense of being hired for another job. Once there, he was captured by the community, bound with rope, and beaten.
Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) responded to a call around 8h48 AM about the assault and found the man surrounded by a mob. The suspect admitted to the crime and revealed he had sold the cellphone and used the stolen cash. The remaining stolen items were recovered. The suspect was handed over to Verulam SAPS for further investigation.