A shocking incident recently happened on social media where a man was burnt alive after being falsely accused of terrorizing and killing community members. The man was caught carrying a TV with a school bag on his back when the patrollers saw him. They believed he was the man they had been looking for and took matters into their own hands, despite his protests that he was not the culprit. They took him to a place in Alexander, put a tire over his head, and set him on fire.
Later, the family members of the man who was killed came forward to claim that he was not the school bag they were looking for, but their claims fell on deaf ears. Another man, Sivuyile Mbangata, also met a similar fate.
The family members shared pictures of their loved one, whom they described as an advocate against abusive men. Despite his protests that he was not the person they were looking for, the community members did not listen and killed him.
Unfortunately, incidents like these are not new, and last year alone, many people suffered in the name of Schoolbag, with some even losing their lives. It is crucial to listen to people’s pleas and avoid taking matters into our own hands. The police always advise against vigilantism to avoid such tragic incidents.
The loss of a breadwinner is a devastating outcome for any family, and this could have been avoided if the community members had handed him over to the police instead of taking the law into their own hands. While we understand people’s anger and desire for justice, it is best to let the authorities handle criminal investigation. May the soul of the departed rest in peace.