Port Elizabeth police came to the rescue of a woman who was being assaulted by a large crowd of people who accused her abducting three children.
Police spokesperson, Captain Andre' Beetge, said the incident happened in Seyisi Street in New Brighton Thursday morning.
He said police reinforcements had to be called when angry community members tried to prevent the police vehicle from whisking the injured woman away from the scene.
Beetge says the drama began Wednesday night when three children, aged 5, 7 and 8, from a household in Tubali Street in Kwazakhele were allegedly abducted by a 30-year-old woman.
"This morning a community in Seyisi Street in New Brighton saw this woman walking with three crying children. On realising that she was the one who abducted this children they started assaulting this lady. Police had to physically remove this lady from the hands of the community," Beetge said.
"When they (police) tried to leave the scene the community members did not want the police to leave. When backup from the K9 unit as well as Kwazakhele response vehicles arrived they managed to get the police vehicle to safety to Kwazakhele".
Beetge said the children have been reunited with their mother and grandmother. He said the woman faces a charge of kidnapping.
Thursday's drama followed another incident on Wednesday when members of the community assaulted a man who allegedly dropped his pants and chased a schoolgirl around.
Beetge said the community members believed that the man was also responsible for the abduction and subsequent murder of Sonja Payi, aged 7, last week.
Her body was found in a field in Struanway on Monday.
A post mortem had revealed that she died as a result of being electrocuted and also that she had been raped. Police said her body was found lying on illegal electrical connections which they said littered the area.
The hunt for her killer is underway.
