WARNING: Story contains descriptions and visuals of violence, nudity and foul language which may be upsetting to sensitive readers.
Police are investigating a video showing cops failing to intervene in a mob justice attack on two naked men during which one was beaten to death.
Three viral clips of the incident at N2 Gateway, Delft, have emerged, showing cops in a police van retreating from the scene as several men wielding pangas, hockey sticks and a hammer strip and beat the two men accused of robbing a house on 25 February.
Police said six men were arrested for murder.
One video shows a group of men dragging a man out of a grey Toyota Corolla by his pants, exposing his buttocks which is viciously beaten with a panga and hockey stick.
The man’s screams are hardly heard over the sound of the hockey stick hitting his body and the attackers’ swearing.
A second video shows the man lying on the ground as he is moered by three men armed with two hockey sticks, a hammer and a sjambok.
A third video shows two men lying kaal in their own blood in the street, which is strewn with their clothing, as men continue to beat them with a blood-soaked baseball bat and a hammer as shouts of “moer hom” echo from people watching.
During the beating, a hooter can be heard, and the video pans to a police vehicle standing nearby.
The cops stay at the vehicle and do not attempt to stop the attack. Instead they get into the van and reverse as the beatings continue.
Neighbours are seen watching the attack, with one of them asking if the man on the ground is Frankie, which suggests that the murdered victim, 20-year-old Franklin van Wyk, was known in the community.
A resident, who did not want to be named, claimed Frankie was always catching on k@k.
“I do not know who the other guy is, but when we heard about the house being robbed, people knew Frankie was involved so they went to look for him.”
Police spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa said the incident happened at 6.05am on Thursday, 25 February.
“The internal probe is currently focusing on the police’s initial response to the crime scene to determine whether the first responders acted accordingly from the time they arrived.
“Also whether the police on the scene asked for backup and what transpired thereafter.”
Potelwa added that six men were arrested for Frankie’s murder.
“One of the assault victims died in hospital shortly after the attack while the other sustained serious injury,” said Potelwa.
The suspects will next appear in court on 9 May.