An alleged child rapist has died after an angry mob attacked him and cut off his testicles.

The unidentified suspect is believed to have been part of a gang who took part in raping two girls, aged 14 and 18, in Ivory Park, near Johannesburg, South Africa.

A crowd of vigilantes chased the deceased and two others but the other two managed to flee the scene while the deceased was caught and maimed.

This eventually led to his death. The two men who escaped were later arrested.

Police spokesman colonel Lungelo Dlamini said: "Allegations are that two girls who were walking to Lindokuhle informal settlement were confronted by suspects armed with a knife and a firearm. The suspects then raped them repeatedly."

He said a witness alerted the community about what had happened to the girl and a mob quickly gathered.

They have now opened a murder investigation into the death of the alleged rapist.