Man dies after Tongaat mob assault following sangoma premonition

A 30-year-old man has died after he and two others were allegedly assaulted by a mob in Tongaat when they were identified by a sangoma as burglary suspects. The incident occurred on Wednesday in the Emona area. According to police, the three men were attacked by a group of people who accused them of theft.

They were taken to hospital, where the 30-year-old later succumbed to his injuries. Members of Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) were dispatched to the area the same evening following reports that a mob was assaulting the men. On arrival, reaction officers found residents attacking one of the victims, who had allegedly been stripped naked.

According to RUSA, community members said they had consulted a sangoma about a burglary in the area. The sangoma allegedly indicated that the men were responsible, after which residents confronted them. KZN police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Paul Magwaza said police in Tongaat have opened cases of murder and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. “Police are investigating following an incident in which three men were allegedly assaulted by a group of people on Wednesday, March 11, who accused them of theft,” he said.