A community frustrated at not being protected from thugs exploded in anger.
The satellite cop shop was torched and roads were blocked by burning tyres and rocks.
This happened at Phiphidi outside Thohoyandou in Limpopo on Tuesday.
Their anger was sparked when an allegedly well-known thug was spotted. The community claims he has terrorised them with violent crimes like robberies, rapes and vicious attacks since 2001.
Community members took the suspect in a taxi to the cop shop where an angry group of villagers was waiting.
The cops took custody of the suspect, and then fired rubber bullets at the villagers.
They fled the scene but returned that night and set fire to the police station.
A resident who didn’t want to be named said: “We are at the mercy of criminals. We give police the names of these thugs but still they do nothing. When we arrest them, the cops just let them go.”
Thohoyandou police spokeswoman Constable Avhafarei Tshiovhe said: “People don’t understand that we’re responsible for arrests. A suspect is also entitled to bail. What happens in the courts is beyond our control.”
She said the suspect is in custody and would appear in court soon.
Cases of malicious damage to property and arson have been opened.
No arrests have been made.
Daily Sun
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