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Blackburn, KZN – Tensions erupted into violence on Monday when a mob of angry residents took justice into their own hands, capturing six men accused—some wrongly—of criminal activity in the area.
According to reports, only two of the men were actual suspects, one recently released from prison and the other allegedly involved in a robbery. The other four were reportedly innocent but were brutally beaten for information, tied up, and threatened with being set alight.
Emergency responders from Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) were called to the scene at around 10:34 AM. Upon arrival, they managed to rescue the four uninvolved men, while ensuring that the two actual suspects were taken into custody by the community before being handed over to the police.
“It was chaos—people were angry, and the situation could’ve easily turned deadly,” said a RUSA spokesperson.
The Verulam SAPS has since launched an investigation into both the alleged criminal activity and the acts of mob justice. Authorities are urging communities to report crimes through proper channels rather than resorting to violence, which often leads to wrongful harm and legal complications.
This incident highlights the growing frustration over crime and perceived inaction by authorities, but also the dangers of mob justice, where innocent lives can be caught in the crossfire.
