Warren Mabona

Warren Mabona

A Diepsloot man accused of burglaries and robberies yesterday ran out of luck when mob justice caught up with him.

Worse, an innocent man was also assaulted by the mob after the burglary suspect fingered him as an accomplice.

A 28-year-old Zimbabwean was allegedly caught red-handed trying to rob a woman in Extension 1. The crowd punched him and pelted him with stones and sharp objects before interrogating him.

The suspect "confessed" that he was part of a gang behind a series of burglaries and robberies in Diepsloot.

He also told the mob he had stolen a generator from a house on Thursday, and named Elvis Khumalo, 34, as his accomplice.

The blood-thirsty mob rushed to Khumalo's shack in Extension 8 where they stripped him naked, dragged him to a dumping site and assaulted him.

The suspect then retracted his statement about Khumalo being his partner in crime. But it was too late because Khumalo was already bleeding profusely.

The two men were saved by the police, who whisked them away and took them to hospital.

Captain Steven Seloane confirmed the incident.

"We are investigating two cases of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and one of robbery," he said.

Seloane said the Zimbabwean was being questioned about his role in robberies.

Zwelithini Mazibuko, 31, Khumalo's uncle, said that his nephew was not part of a gang.

"I was in my shack when I heard people shouting at the gate, and Elvis was in the yard.

"He got scared and tried to flee, and I think that is what convinced the mob that he was the one they were looking for.

"Elvis is a very polite person and would never steal a cent from anyone. He is employed as a painter," Mazibuko said.