Western Cape Police Investigate 4 Murders in Khayelitsha, 3 of the Victims Burnt Beyond Recognition
- The South African Police Service (SAPS) is investigating four brutal murders in the Enkandla informal settlement, Khayelitsha
- Three of the victims were burnt beyond recognition, while the fourth was stabbed numerous times on Monday, 29 September 2025
- Police condemned acts of vigilantism, warning community members against taking the law into their own hands
PAY ATTENTION: You can now search for all your favourite news and topics on Briefly News.
Source: Getty Images
Briefly News journalist Byron Pillay has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He spent 10 years working for the Northern Natal Courier before transitioning to online journalism.
WESTERN CAPE – Four people have been brutally killed in the Enkandla informal settlement, Harare, Khayelitsha, in what police believe could be vigilante killings.
Three men were burned beyond recognition, while the fourth was stabbed numerous times. The incidents occurred in the early hours of Monday, 29 September 2025, as violence continues to rock the province.
Police respond to four murder cases in two hours
Police in the province responded to a murder case in the Enkandla informal settlement just after midnight, where they discovered the body of a male burnt beyond recognition.
DON'T MISS IT: Stay Away From Fake News With Our Short, Free Fact-Checking Course. Join And Get Certified!
While attending to the scene, officers received information about another murder scene where they found the bodies of two other men. They were also burnt beyond recognition. Just after 2 am, the body of a 30-year-old male was discovered in the settlement. He suffered multiple stab wounds and was declared dead on the scene by medical personnel.
Police cannot confirm as yet whether the stabbing was related to the earlier murders, but believe that it may be linked.
Police warn community against committing acts of vigilantism
The South African Police Service has condemned the murders, saying they bore the hallmarks of vigilante killings.
“Taking the law into one’s own hands is a criminal offence and will not be tolerated. Such acts not only undermine the rule of law but also create fear and instability within communities,” police said.
Kraaifontein and Delft experience vigilante killings
The latest murders come less than three weeks after three men were killed in Kraaifontein, Cape Town, which police also believed to be vigilante killings.
The murders happened not long after three separate double murders rocked the area. Police confirmed that the three men were killed before their bodies were set alight. The murders happened on the same night that police arrested one man in connection with one of the double murders in which two women were killed.
In February 2025, Delft experienced a similar situation, as a manhunt was launched after three people were killed. According to Western Cape police, the trio were shot first and then set alight, in what police believed was also an act of vigilantism.
Western Cape gang violence reaches new levels
Briefly News recently published an in-depth look at the rising gang-related violence in the Western Cape.
The rising violence led to over 300 people being murdered in August 2025 alone, with some areas more affected than others.
The Acting Minister of Police, Firoz Cachalia, recently visited the province to address the problems.
PAY ATTENTION: Follow Briefly News on Twitter and never miss the hottest topics! Find us at @brieflyza!
Source: Briefly News
