RESIDENTS of Mthatha have beaten to death two gunmen who were allegedly part of a gang carrying out a robbery in Mandela Park yesterday.

RESIDENTS of Mthatha have beaten to death two gunmen who were allegedly part of a gang carrying out a robbery in Mandela Park yesterday.

Eastern Cape police spokesperson Superintendent Mzukisi Fatyela said: "While the robbery was going on the community came and began beating them with sticks, iron rods and pangas."

Four men entered a spaza shop in Mandela Park at 6.30am. They held up the owner and his wife at gunpoint and took R4500, a DVD player and a cellphone.

"The woman began screaming and just before they attempted to rape her, community members entered. The group beat the four severely. One robber died on the scene, the second died in hospital and the remaining two are in a critical condition in hospital and under police guard."

The stolen items were recovered and police arrested three residents. - Sapa