Twelve people, 10 foreign nationals and two South Africans, have been arrested for the alleged murder of a foreign national shepherd who was reportedly beaten to death after being accused of stealing a lamb in Mashaeng, near Fouriesburg in the Free State.
The incident occurred at the Mashaeng Commonage, where police attended a murder scene on Thursday.
Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Mmako Mophiring said officers found a man lying dead at the scene with multiple bruises to his upper body and injuries to his eyes.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the man was a foreign national shepherd who had been accused of stealing a lamb.
Police said it was alleged the shepherd slaughtered the lamb near a local dam and threw some of the carcass into the water.
“Only the head and legs were subsequently found,” Mophiring said.
The circumstances surrounding the alleged livestock theft and the events that led to the shepherd’s death remain under investigation.
Cellphone allegedly links suspect to murder
Police said their investigation resulted in the arrest of an initial suspect who was allegedly found in possession of a cellphone belonging to the dead man.
“Further investigation resulted in the arrest of 11 additional suspects,” Mophiring said.
A total of 12 suspects, aged between 24 and 59, have now been arrested and charged with murder.
Ten of the suspects are foreign nationals, while two are South African nationals from Mashaeng township near Fouriesburg.
Police condemn mob justice
Free State Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant-General Thabang Lesia welcomed the arrests and strongly condemned the alleged mob justice.
“People suspected of committing crimes must be handed over to the police to allow proper investigations to take place,” Lesia said.
“Taking the law into your own hands is not a solution to crime,” he added.
The 12 suspects are expected to appear before the Fouriesburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday, where they are expected to face murder charges.
The SAPS urged community members to work with police by reporting suspected criminal activity and allowing law enforcement agencies to investigate and deal with alleged offenders within the confines of the law.
