South African police said yesterday that five people accused of burglary were burnt alive by an angry mob in the South African city of Cape Town. The victims are aged between 25 and 36 years, according to a local police spokesman.
He added in a statement that according to preliminary data, the residents accused the victims of robbing a house in Delft township. As a result, they beat and burned them.
Stating that an investigation has been launched in this regard to determine the culprits and responsibilities, the police official said that “vigilantism is condemned and people who take the law into their own hands will be considered criminals” and therefore prosecuted.
With a high crime rate, South Africa ranks among the most dangerous countries in the world. The rate of murders, armed robberies, rapes and other crimes is increasing.
According to official statistics, more than 7,000 murders were committed in the country in the third quarter of 2022, an increase of 13.6% over the previous quarter.