The City of Ekurhuleni’s Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS) discovered charred remains of a 35-year-old man under dismantled corrugated iron sheets in Katlehong, southeast of Johannesburg.
The discovery was made on Wednesday morning after the department attended to a call of a fire from Tuesday night.
DEMS spokesperson William Ntladi said: “As per information on the scene, the incident occurred at night, and fire and rescue services were only notified this morning.”
It is alleged that the man was deliberately burned in the shack as an act of mob justice, however authorities were only notified on Wednesday morning.
“Firefighters from Thokoza responded out with a Water Tanker fire engine, and on arrival, the shack was found extinguished and dismantled by residents.
“A severe charred body was identified under the burnt building rubble. The patient’s aged thirty-five old, his identity is with-held due to security safety and reasons,” added Ntladi
The police took over the case after paramedics declared the man dead on scene.
Meanwhile, the Forensic Pathology Services were also called to the scene for the removal of the body to pathological facilities.
Previously, IOL reported on incidents where communities took the law into their hands and attacked people, they suspected to be perpetrators of criminal activities in their communities.
Police and the National Prosecuting Authority have condemned such acts and vowed to hold perpetrators accountable, as such incidents get more familiar in townships and rural areas.
Meanwhile, Crime analyst Calvin Rafadi, a research associate at the University of Johannesburg, said that the crime levels and the loss of confidence in the police have a direct influence on the incidences of mob justice.
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