POLICE rescued the family of a man who was arrested for allegedly mutilating a man, from an angry mob in Soshanguve, north of Pretoria, on Tuesday evening.

The mob was threatening to torch the family's home and kill them.

The family, said to house a number of sangomas, heard that a meeting of residents had resolved to attack them following rumours that the police had retrieved human body parts from the family's pit latrine.

The anger followed the arrest at the weekend of a 29-year-old man from the family for allegedly cutting of the genitals of a 38-year-old father of two near his Block V home in Soshanguve, north of Pretoria, on September 2.

The victim is still recovering in hospital.

The suspect appeared in the Soshanguve Magistrate's Court on a charge of attempted murder on Tuesday and the case was postponed to tomorrow.

Warrant Officer Lolo Mangena, spokesman for the Rietgat police in Soshanguve, confirmed the incident, saying the traditional healer, Elizabeth Chauke, 80, her husband Levy Mashishi, 62, their son and a grandson sought refuge at the Phuthanong police station.

Police stopped the mob, who were carrying burning tyres and an assortment of weapons, at about 9pm.

After the arresting officer spoke to the crowd, they dispersed at about 11.30pm.

Mangena said police were tipped off about the whereabouts of the suspect by two teenagers who allegedly witnessed the incident.

Mangena said they found the "panga" allegedly used to remove the victim's genitals wrapped in a bloodied pair of trousers in the family's pit latrine.

Chauke, who denied using human body parts as muthi, told Sowetan the knife allegedly used by the suspect belonged to her.

- mckeed@sowetan.co.za