A vigilante mob allegedly made up of members of a political party and community residents killed two people on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast, police said on Tuesday.

Captain Vincent Pandarum said another two people, including a police officer, were assaulted during the incident on Monday.

“A political party youth league was holding a meeting in Malangeni and the issue of crime was on the agenda... They then decided to go after two people they identified as being involved in crimes,” Pandarum said.

The vigilante group was later joined by residents and they swelled to about 1000 people.

The two people they identified were beaten up and later died, while a third person was assaulted.

A policeman who attempted to help the injured man was stoned and assaulted with a knobkierie, said Pandarum.

A police van was also damaged.

"The unrest continued into the night and a private vehicle of one of the residents was also found damaged."

When the group dispersed, five homes were set alight. Two belonged to the dead men.

No arrests had been made yet and police were unable to reveal which political party was involved.

Sapa

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