A man accused of stealing money from people by cloning their bank cards died after he was set alight by an angry mob in Freedom Park, Phokeng, North West police said on Monday.
"On Saturday, it is alleged that the community pelted a male with stones before setting him alight. He died at the scene," said Brigadier Thulani Ngubane.
The man's companion managed to escape from the crowd with a wound on his head and was taken to hospital.
"According to information available, the deceased and his friend were allegedly suspected to be members of an ATM card theft syndicate that robbed people of their cards, cloned them and later withdrew cash from victims' accounts using the cloned cards," Ngubane said.
The man's VW Polo was also set alight.
Ngubane said the group on Saturday looted a shop in the area before apprehending the two men they suspected of cloning bank cards.
Twenty-four people were arrested and face charges of murder, attempted murder, possession of stolen property and public violence.
Those arrested, ten females and 14 males, are aged between 23 years and 60.
They are expected to appear in the Bafokeng Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.
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