The community of Phiva village in Nkomazi, Mpumalanga is enraged by the killing of a young man who was allegedly caught by members of the local Community Policing Forum (CPF) trying to steal from a house. It's alleged that after being caught in the act, the young man was assaulted, tied to a car and dragged around the community on Monday.

It's alleged that the community members's pleas to CPF to hand over the man to the police fell on deaf ears until the man could not move or breath. A community member who did not want to be named says CPF members only took the man to the hospital when they could see that his life was hanging by the thread. He was certified dead on arrival at hospital. We cannot have people who call themselves law enforcement and go on to take the law into their own hands, not in our community. When a criminal is caught, we take them to the police, those people must face murder charges and be removed from our streets," the community member said. The young man's killing angered some community members who later took the matter into their own hands and burned down a houses and cars belonging to CPF members. The community of Phiva have been protesting since Monday after the incident and they say they will not stop until the culprits are behind bars.

Mpumalanga police spokesperson Colonel Donald Mdhluli said according to a report, community members took to the streets and reportedly torched some houses, an office for sector crime forum, as well as a patrol vehicle belonging to the forum at Phiva. "These unlawful acts began with an incident in which a 28-year-old man was attacked after allegations that he was intending to steal. It is further reported that after the man was severely assaulted, he was taken for medical treatment but sadly died on arrival in hospital," he said. Mdhluli further said that it is reported that community members mobilised and burnt down some properties in a revenge attack. "As a result, Public Order Policing (POP) members in conjunction with members from Kamhlushwa SAPS came on board to maintain high visibility in the area. The situation is currently under control," he said. Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has condemned the acts of vigilantism in the area. The General has also called upon community members to engage the police when they suspect that a crime has or is being been committed.