Soweto residents severely assaulted two men who tried to rob a pedestrian at the weekend, police said on Monday.

A 37-year-old man was walking home from Inhlazane railway station in Jabulani on Sunday night, Warrant Officer Kay Makhubela said.

Three men held him at gunpoint before hitting him over the head.

“Before the man fell down he screamed. The screams were heard by people in the township who came to his rescue.”

The man with the gun fled as residents caught and attacked his accomplices. They were being treated under police guard at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.

Makhubela urged people not to take the law into their own hands.

“We encourage citizen arrests, but strongly discourage mob justice. Once a suspect has been apprehended, they must be brought to us injury-free,” he said.

– SAPA