Court told of horror mob justice murders

SIX Booysen Park residents, fed up with suspected gang members terrorising their neighbourhood, took the law into their own hands and allegedly beat two men to death with anything they could lay their hands on.

After police intervened, the residents allegedly dragged the men out of a police van and continued the deadly assault, according to the prosecution.

When ambulance personnel tried to treat them, their vehicles were stoned.

The group of assailants, which had quickly turned into a mob of about 500, was ultimately broken up when police began firing rubber bullets at them.

Yesterday, the accused – Vukile Dyele, 37, Mputhumi Maxela, 44, Siyabulelo Sibhulo, 38, Zalisile Mbolekwa, 52, Ntombizoduma Mletelwa, 31, and Luvuyo Maneli, 41 – appeared briefly in the Port Elizabeth High Court. The case was postponed to Monday for trial.

According to the indictment, the victims – Lunga Xola and Bulelani Lombo – were believed to be members of the Big Naz gang, responsible for several armed robberies in the Greenfields area in Booysen Park.

At about 7am on May 19 2013, the accused and others allegedly went to the home of Ntombozuko Xola, where the men were believed to be hiding out.

They kicked down the door and allegedly began assaulting Xola and Lombo with pick handles, golf clubs, spades, knives and sticks, before dragging the men out into the street.

Police received a complaint of mob justice at about 8.10am.

By the time they arrived on the scene, the group had mushroomed to about 500 people.

Police managed to place one of the assault victims in the back of the police van, infuriating the mob, which dragged him out again.

More police, as well as ambulance personnel, were called for backup.

“The mob started stoning and damaging the police vehicles and the ambulances,” the indictment reads.

“The police fired rubber bullets at the crowd. This enabled the police and ambulance officials to remove both the [wounded men] from the scene.”

The men died in hospital later as a result of their wounds.

It is further alleged that the accused set fire to two houses belonging to the victims’ families.

State advocate Jason Thysse said the accused had acted in common purpose.

They face charges including housebreaking with intent to kidnap, two counts of kidnapping, two counts of murder, public violence, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, two counts of arson and malicious damage to property.