One man was killed and another seriously injured after they were attacked for allegedly being involved in cattle theft by a mob in Verena, Mpumalanga.

26 cattle, six goats, and a donkey were reportedly stolen from a certain farm near Verena.

A shepherd was allegedly attacked and robbed of an undisclosed amount of cash.

Mpumalanga Police spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdhluli says the suspects were accosted by community members after their two bakkies pulling trailers got stuck in the mud.

Mdhluli says a case of murder, among others, has been opened. “They were assaulted; unfortunately, one of them died, the other one was taken to the hospital and is under police guard. The Acting Provincial Commission of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Dr. Zeph Mkhanaz, has strongly condemned the acts of vigilantism and encouraged members of the public to work in collaboration with the police so that the issue of stock theft can be addressed. The investigation continues.”