Community burns Kanni’s ‘killers’ | Daily Sun

Police vehicles with blood stains of one of the dead boys who were allegedly killed by angry community members. Photo by Tumelo Mofokeng

THREE suspected killers were burned alive on Sunday, 8 September in Sebokeng Zone 12 by angry community members.

A grieving family from Sebokeng was shocked to see angry residents with three young men accused of killing their son, Kanni Khumalo (29) in the early hours of Sunday morning after he was stabbed several times and died at the hospital.

Kanni was found lying in a pool of blood next to his home around 4am on his way back from a tavern.

He was rushed to hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries sustained at the hands of his attackers. They stabbed him several times before they vanished.

The Khumalo family told Daily Sun three men were beaten up and burned alive by residents where their son was found lying, and they couldn’t do anything to save them.

“Two family members of the boys came and apologised on behalf of their kids, and we accepted their apologies as they showed remorse and humility. We’re saddened by our brother’s death, who was a humble man. His death touched the entire community that ended up avenging his death by killing his alleged killers,” said one family member.

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One of the residents told the SunTeam many people are killed in the area.

“No one is arrested even when suspects are known. Killing those who have killed has become the only solution,” she said.

Gauteng police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mavela Masondo said police strongly condemn acts of vigilantism after three men were allegedly killed by community members.

Masondo said police have opened a case with three counts of murder after three men died as they were allegedly assaulted and set alight by the community in Sebokeng, in the early hours of Sunday, 8 September.

He said it was reported that the trio robbed and killed a 29-year-old man who lived in the same neighbourhood.

The community was mobilised and went searching for the suspects.

“They found them hiding inside a container and took them to Sebokeng Zone 12, where they assaulted and burned them. All three vigilantism victims were certified dead on the scene,” said Masondo.

Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant-General Tommy Mthombeni has strongly condemned this act of vigilantism.

“We’re sending a stern warning to community members who take the law into their own hands. They should have reported the matter to the police and allowed investigations to unfold. Those who were involved in this act of vigilantism will be hunted down and subjected to the full might of the law,” Mthombeni said.