A suspect thought he had outsmarted the police, but he ran straight into the people's fury...

Enraged community members at Plange in the Malamulele area, who are tired of crime, unleashed their anger on the man whom they suspected to be a robber in the area. The incident happened last Sunday evening.

It is alleged the man found himself at the mercy of angry community members after running away from a police trap. It is alleged that he and another man were allegedly arranging to buy rhino horns from a ranger.

The community, which has experienced many acts of crime of late and recently held meetings to discuss crime,  saw red when the man was found in a house in the village. The man was severely attacked and left for dead.

The man, aged 35, is believed to be from Khubvi and is now in the Malamulele Hospital and under police guard. His friend, aged 39, is in police custody.

Police spokesperson Col Ronél Otto said two suspected rhino poachers in their thirties were arrested after they allegedly attempted to persuade a ranger in the Kruger National Park to kill and dehorn a rhino for them. They allegedly said it would be “easier” for a ranger to do so.

The ranger allegedly agreed, but told them that they would need to bring him a fire-arm as he could not shoot the animal with his official fire-arm. He then contacted the police and a meeting was arranged between the ranger and the suspects. The meeting took place at Plange village near Malamulele on Sunday evening.

“The 39-year-old man was arrested during this controlled meeting and police confiscated a 30.06 hunting rifle as well as a vehicle. A second suspect, who realised what was happening, ran away and fled into the home of a woman in the village,” said Otto.

The woman alerted members of the community, who then assaulted the suspect severely. He is currently in hospital in a serious but stable condition. The other suspect is due to appear in court soon. He will face charges of possession of an unlicensed fire-arm, as well as conspiracy to commit a crime.

The second suspect will appear once he is sufficiently recovered.

Otto said investigations were continuing.