Thirty-eight women who allegedly beat a rape suspect to death were arrested in Ngcobo near Mthatha, Eastern Cape police said on Sunday.

The women allegedly attacked the man after his release from police custody on Friday, Superintendent Mzukisi Fatyela said.

"The women assaulted the man until he died. They were all arrested on Saturday."

They would appear in the Ngcobo Magistrate's Court soon to face a charge of murder.

In a separate incident a man was arrested for allegedly stabbing his brother to death on Saturday. The two were having an argument when one of them took out a knife and stabbed the other. He would appear in the Mthatha Magistrate's Court soon to face a charge of murder.