Sjambok used in mob justice attack

GEORGE NEWS - A man was attacked by an angry mob at the taxi rank in Cradock Street on Thursday 16 February.

According to unconfirmed information, the attack came after the man allegedly conned a woman from Conville out of R5 000 the previous day.

She recognised him at the taxi rank, held him down and raised the alarm while a nearby shop owner alerted Optima Security by using a panic button.

When Optima's armed response guard arrived on the scene, the man was still being held down by the woman. According to unconfirmed information, it was the guard who cuffed the man while waiting for the police to arrive.

This was when community members started becoming rowdy and assaulted the man with a sjambok. According to an eyewitness he was beaten repeatedly and bystanders also poured salt and water over him.

The guard had no choice but to back away in order not to get attacked as well. The crowd dispersed when police arrived and the badly beaten man was taken to hospital for medical treatment before he was arrested.

At this stage it is unclear what happened after police removed the injured man, as by the time of going to print George Herald had not received any feedback on enquiries that were sent to the police shortly after the incident happened.

Community members repeatedly beat the man with a sjambok and tore his clothes from his body.