Three men were allegedly attacked by angry community members after they recovered cattle carcasses in their minibus on Tuesday night in Mavele village, Limpopo. The angry mob also torched the vehicle.

SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba said stock theft was reported at the police station on Tuesday. "It is alleged that three people were attacked and assaulted by angry community members who spotted a suspicious white minibus taxi parked in the bushes. They mobilised and approached the said vehicle. Initially, they found five occupants but two managed to escape," said Mashaba. He said three occupants were cornered and assaulted allegedly after the community recovered cattle carcasses in their minibus taxi. "They also torched the vehicle and after that, the police were summoned to the scene. Upon arrival, community members dispersed. The police found two women and a man in possession of about seven carcasses of cattle, and some were already cut into pieces. Victims were taken to the local clinic for medical treatment," he said.

Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe called upon community members to respect the law and not take it into their own hands. "The stock theft has reached unprecedented levels, however, we call upon our communities to resist the temptation of stealing livestock since it has dire effects. We have witnessed many people being subjected to vigilantism as a result of stock theft," she said. Preliminary investigations linked the trio to stock theft cases that occurred in the Letsitele policing precinct and surrounding areas. The three arrested suspects aged between 38 and 43 will appear before Ritavi Magistrates' Court on Thursday, 14 December 2023, facing possession of suspected stolen livestock.