Young man painted white for stealing a cellphone and made to walk 250 metres down the street

A young man had his whole body painted white and made to walk down the street as punishment for stealing a 63-year-old pensioner’s cellphone on Tuesday, November 10. Gezani Munwanati from Makuleke Village in Limpopo, South Africa, said the boy, 20, went into his bedroom and stole the cellphone.

“I left my cellphone in my room when I went to buy bread. When I returned, it was missing. My grandson said he saw the young man enter the room just after I left and steal my phone.” he said.

Gezani confronted the young man but he denied stealing the phone.

“I asked him for my phone but he denied he took it, he said. I took the boy to my house, but I couldn’t beat him up or kill him. So I did something he will never forget. I painted his body and made him walk 250 metres down the street with his body covered in paint. My aim was to teach all village thieves that if they steal from me, they will be in big trouble. I bought this cellphone for R1 400 a few months ago.”

The repentant young man told Daily Sun he regrets his action.

“I would like to apologise to the old man for stealing his cellphone. I will never steal again as I have learned the hard way. I advise other kids not to commit crime. It’s not good. The first cellphone I stole was from the house of a local teacher.”

Warrant Officer Sam Matsimbi urged members of the community to report crimes to the police instead of taking law into their own hands.

“We appeal to community members not to take the law into their own hands. Whoever they suspect stole from them should be reported to the police.” Matsimbi said.