Butterworth, September 12: A 22-year-old man was killed after residents of Msobomvu township in Butterworth assaulted him with pangas and stones for allegedly attempting to rape a local girl on Saturday morning, Eastern Cape police said.
Captain Lingisile Magama said the mob descended on the man at around 4am after witnessing him and another man assaulting a 17-year-old girl.
“The girl was walking home from a tavern when the two men approached her. One of the men tried to rape her and when she put up a fight, they started assaulting her with their fists and butts of their firearms,” said Magama.
On witnessing the incident, community members gave chase and managed to catch one of the men, beating him to death.
“They used an assortment of weapons including stones and pangas… killing the man,” said Magama.
No one has been arrested for the man’s murder and police are still searching for his alleged accomplice, who will be charged with assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
“A case of murder is also being investigated,” he said.
—Agencies