People from Praktiseer outside Burgersfort celebrated the death of Kabelo Phoku, allegedly at the hands of an angry mob, because of his rumoured leadership of a gang notorious for terrorizing communities in the area.
KB, as he was known, was allegedly the leader of a gang in Tubatse which is accused of crimes such as robbery and attempted murder.
He was allegedly caught in the act of robbing a resident at about 04:30.
A source from the township told The Citizen: ‘He stabbed a man who was heading to work with a knife. The victim fought back while a mob came to rescue him. They allegedly killed Phoku.’
Photos of the body of the once-feared man circulated on social media shortly after his death.
Dressed in a white T-shirt and a black jacket, the pictures showed his bloodied body lying at the roadside. In one photo, a broken bottle is seen next to his bloodied head.
Community members sang, whistled, chanted and ululated as his lifeless body was removed from the scene, according to The Citizen.
‘Although death is not something to be celebrated, I don’t blame the people who are rejoicing today,’ said an elderly man at the scene. ‘This man stabbed and robbed so many people in Ga Motodi, Praktiseer, Bothashoek and nearby villages. He was a feared.’
Limpopo SAPS spokesman Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the murder was being investigated.
[Image: David von Diemar on Unsplash]