Two men have died in mob justice attacks in New Brighton, Port Elizabeth, within the last 24 hours, Eastern Cape police said on Tuesday.

The first man died on Monday after residents accused him of being a robber, said Captain Andre Beetge.

Officers rushed to Stofile Street after receiving reports of a vigilante murder.

"On arrival, a group of persons were found standing around the burning body of Sinethemba Gwatya," he said.

"Next to him, a burnt toy gun and rocks were found."

Beetge said nobody at the scene was willing to say who had killed Gwatya, but allegations were made that the 23-year-old had robbed people before he was killed by a group of residents.

"Sinethemba had head and body injuries and his body was burnt using tyres by his attackers," said Beetge.

On Tuesday morning, officers found a group of people standing around the burning body of another man, on the corner of Mbilini and Sidindi Street.

He was later identified as 29-year-old Mandla Charles Hashe.

"They attempted to block the police members from approaching the deceased, but police managed to break through the crowd and secure the crime scene. Nobody at the scene was willing to say who killed him," said Beetge.

Hashe was found with head and body injuries. Beetge said his body was burnt using tyres.

Motherwell Cluster Commander, Major General Dawie Rabie warned: "The South African Police Service cannot allow members of the community to take the law into their own hands. Any person taking part in acts like these will be arrested and charged with murder. We simply cannot allow a community to be transformed into murderers."

Police were investigating the murders.

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