KaMhlushwa – A house and a workshop building belonging to the man, who was arrested and freed by a court after allegedly fatally shooting a 78-year-old man he accused of witchcraft, have been set alight.
The violence began a week ago, on 10 November 2023, when Samuel Mahleba was shot dead.
After the fatal shooting, a 60-year-old man handed himself over to KaMhlushwa Police Station, in Mpumalanga, where he spent the weekend behind bars.
The accused appeared in the Nkomazi Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
However, all hell broke loose after the court freed the accused.
In protest, disgruntled residents went on the rampage torching the freed man’s house and his workshop.
Speaking to The Bulrushes, Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, said the suspect was released after the court found that the police failed to adhere to procedures during the arrest of the accused, who was in possession of his licensed firearm.
Brigadier Mohlala said the suspect’s details were withheld for “further investigation” purposes as he was “not a murder suspect”.
“The suspect was taken to court on Monday but his case was not enrolled and as a result, he is a free man,” explained Brigadier Mohlala.
“Community members were not happy about his return to the community.
“A few hours after he was released from court, community members went on the rampage and torched his house and workshop.”
The man who had been freed by the court was not at home when his house was gutted by the fire.
Brigadier Mohlala warned residents against taking the law into their own hands.
Mpumalanga Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela condemned the acts of violence.
