Suspected thieves face public humiliation in South Africa as viral video sparks reactions
A group of suspected thieves in South Africa has become the talk of social media after they were reportedly caught and subjected to an unusual form of punishment.
The viral video
The suspects were made to lie face down on the ground in a single line by the side of a road, with each person's face pressed against the backside of the man in front of him. Their hands appear to be tied behind them.
Reports say they were caught by locals, although a uniformed officer can also be seen standing beside the men in the footage, so it is not clear whether the police or members of the public arranged them that way.
Laughter and concern
The incident has sparked mixed reactions online. Many people found the punishment hilarious, joking that South Africans seem to have invented a brand-new style of discipline.
Others were less amused, questioning whether suspects should be humiliated in public before any court has found them guilty, and whether members of the public should ever take the law into their own hands.
What we don't know
The circumstances of the incident, including where and when it happened and what the men are accused of stealing, have not been independently verified.
Over to you
Is this kind of public humiliation going too far, or will it discourage stealing?
- The suspects were made to lie face down in a line.
- The video has gone viral on social media.
- The circumstances have not been verified.
