Residents take law into their hands amid Joburg's Orange Farm gangsterism scourge

JOHANNESBURG - Community members in Orange Farm have taken the law into their own hands, committing acts of mob justice on people allegedly involved in gangs in the area dubbed Gauteng’s murder capital.

The community says it's fed up with local police, claiming they are under resourced and ineffective in addressing rampant crime.

The claims date back to 2021 when former police minister Bheki Cele addressed residents about the police station and promised to address allegations that they were under resourced.

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According to Orange Farm residents, several men, suspected to be gang members, were killed by the community in an act of mob justice on Wednesday.

Videos supplied to Eyewitness News show a large mob attacking a man who lies motionless on the ground.

One resident, who spoke anonymously, says they have been left to deal with the issue of gangsterism the way they know best.

"Yesterday, [Wednesday] nine young men were killed from the gang 925s in front of police because now the community is fed up."

Patrick Mahlambi of the SA National Civic Organisation says policing in Orange Farm is a concern.

"I don’t know whether one police station is insufficient but even with this one police station, it’s ineffective because they claim they do not have resources, so if you say you do not have resources, how are you expected to carry out your duties?

Gangs have now infiltrated schools in the area, with several stabbing incidents recorded this week.