Twelve people have been arrested for murder following the alleged mob killing of a foreign national shepherd at the Mashaeng Commonage near Fouriesburg.
Police discovered the man’s body on Thursday, 3 September 2026, with multiple bruises to his upper body and injuries to his eyes.
The shepherd was allegedly accused of stealing a lamb, which he reportedly slaughtered near a local dam. The investigation led to the arrest of a suspect allegedly found with the deceased’s cellphone, followed by 11 more arrests.
The suspects, aged between 24 and 59, include 10 foreign nationals and two South Africans from Mashaeng Township. They are expected to appear in the Fouriesburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 7 September.
Free State Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Thabang Lesia condemned the alleged mob justice.
“People suspected of committing crimes must be handed over to the police to allow proper investigations to take place. Taking the law into your own hands is not a solution to crime.”
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