Cries and pleas for mercy could not stop the bloodthirsty villagers from burning the 83-year-old gogo alive. The incident has left the entire nation in shock after the video went viral. The gogo was identified as Nosayinethu Manundu, from Majuba Village outside Sterkspruit in the Eastern Cape.

According to the video footage that is doing the rounds, gogo was burnt to her death after she was accused of being responsible for the death of a 23-year-old man called Samkelo Manunu. The attack on gogo happened a day after Samkelo’s burial.

Cultural expert, Mtimande Ngcwenya and other traditional leaders have called on people to stop accusing others of being evil and hurting them.

“This is wrong and disgusting. Where is ubuntu? What proof do you have that they are really evil?” said Ngcwenya.

Prior to being burnt to death, gogo Manundu was allegedly drowned in a drum of water in an attempt to kill her but this did not work. This led to the villagers to burnt her in her rondavel instead.

Several men can be seen calmly pushing her into the burning rondavel. She crawls out and begs for mercy. The person behind the camera can be heard saying: “Hurry, the fire is dying”.

Her 23-year-old granddaughter, escaped death by a whisker as she managed to escape when the crowd doused their house with paraffin. She is currently under police protection.

National police spokeswoman Brigadier Mathapelo Peters said four men had been arrested and charged with assault, arson, murder and attempted murder.

“If they have seen someone doing something wrong, they must open a case of intimidation with the police who will investigate. Taking the law into your own hands is not the right thing to do.”