Man’s hand cut off in mob attack

October 15 2013 at 12:16pm
By Valeska Abreu
Comment on this story
Copy of IOL crime tape blue yellow
.
.
Pretoria - Drenched in a pool of blood and left for dead, with one of his severed hands lying next to him, was how security guards found a man on Saturday morning on the pavement between Woodlands Mall and the Pretoria East cemetery.

It is suspected that the man had become a victim of apparent mob justice from squatters at the informal settlement next to the cemetery.

Police said witnesses on the scene, as well as squatters, had refused to give details of the crime.

But it is believed that the man’s hand was cut off with a panga or similar weapon.

Police said information from the scene indicated that squatters had become fed up with the man’s alleged criminal activities, as well as other criminal activities in the area and had decided to make an example of him by cutting off his hands.

In July, reports emerged of another suspected thief, whose hands were cut off after he was caught stealing in a Joburg township.

Police said they were investigating a case of assault.
 
Geee . . .WTF Who needs courts if you can have justice - the African way.
 
Heavy, but if the guy was guilty of repeated criminal activities it does send a strong message.
 
Sometimes I don't mind it done the African way.... if the courts can't do it, then please, more vigilante groups.
 
Well I hope he fingers the culprits and the truth comes out.
If he is a habitual thief then little pity from my side.
The area where he was found is well known for smash and grab thieves and I suppose he was giving the other inhabitants a bad name. If he is one of those thieves then it will be called smash and scab from now on.
 
Well I think the chopping of the hand is great deterrent for thiefs,unfortunately I don't agree with the mob justice since its easy to mistake the wrong person for the crime, an innocent may get caught up in the mob justice and punished or made an example of for a crime he/she didn't commit....I hope this guy was in fact guilty,then he deserves it.

I've seen mobs attack sometimes in the chaos its easy for the wrong person to get the brunt just because one dumb ass in the mob thought wrong.
 
Most justice has always left a bad taste in my mouth. So easy to falsely accuse somebody, and cutting off someone's hands will likely lead to them bleeding to death. Hardly a fitting punishment for the crime. Rather brand his forehead with a thief tattoo or chain him to a pole for 3 days with no food and water, but killing the guy yeah, not a fitting punishment not at all :erm:
 
That's around the corner from me... and I often go past there. Pretty nasty stuff if you ask me. They should just chuck all the people out of there and bulldoze that area.
 
TehStranger said:
Heavy, but if the guy was guilty of repeated criminal activities it does send a strong message.
Click to expand...
Yes, work in groups, make sure you're armed, and ready to kill.

falcon786 said:
Well I think the chopping of the hand is great deterrent for thiefs,unfortunately I don't agree with the mob justice since its easy to mistake the wrong person for the crime, an innocent may get caught up in the mob justice and punished or made an example of for a crime he/she didn't commit....I hope this guy was in fact guilty,then he deserves it.

I've seen mobs attack sometimes in the chaos its easy for the wrong person to get the brunt just because one dumb ass in the mob thought wrong.
Click to expand...
It's not a deterrent at all. It also isn't a matter of may attack someone not guilty, but that these mobs of mindless hoodlums regular do.
 
Hemi300c said:
According to the Record, local news paper, he had both hands chopped off! I hope he was guilty at least and if so how they gonna cuff him?
Click to expand...

That's what I heard there too, but this article says "hand". So I dunno.

Now, if I can find the guy who bikejacked and stabbed a friend of mine behind the Moraleta church yesterday, we might just have more hands lying around :mad:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X