The Mooinooi police in the North West are investigating a case of murder and kidnapping following an alleged incident in which a 35-year-old Lesotho national was killed after being set alight.
According to police report, on Thursday night, police received a complaint that a person had been murdered at the Khlamtwna informal settlement.
“Police attended the scene and met a woman who identified herself as the deceased’s girlfriend. She indicated that she had received information that her boyfriend had been murdered and left in nearby bushes. Upon arrival at the scene, police noticed flames, indicating that something was burning.
“A naked male body was found lying on the ground with both hands tied behind his back, and the body had been set alight. During preliminary investigations, the deceased’s girlfriend indicated that the victim had allegedly been forcefully apprehended by a group of unknown community members after being accused of stealing their cattle,” read the report.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner of North West, Major General Ryno Naidoo, condemned the incident and warned community members against taking the law into their own hands.
He urged residents to report suspected criminal activities to the police so that such matters can be dealt with through proper legal processes.
Police investigations are continuing, and no arrests have been made at this stage.