FOUR men who were allegedly known to have terrorised the community of Enkandla informal settlement were set alight and killed in a vigilante attack in three separate incidents in Harare.
Police on Sunday night responded to a complaint of the body of a male who was burned beyond recognition.
While attending to that scene, the officers were alerted to another incident in the same area where two more charred bodies were found.
Later, another body was discovered with multiple stab wounds in a resident’s house. It is believed that this incident is related to the other incidents and that the deceased might have been able to escape being burned.
Police spokesperson Colonel Andrè Traut said that police condemn the act of vigilantism.
Traut reported: “Police in Harare are investigating a series of brutal incidents in the Enkandla informal settlement, in the early hours of Monday, 29 September 2025.
"At around midnight, police responded to a complaint of murder where they discovered the body of a male burnt beyond recognition. While still attending to the scene, officers were alerted to another incident in the same area, where the bodies of two additional males were found, also burnt beyond recognition.
"In a separate but possibly related matter, at about 02:00, the body of a 30-year-old male was discovered in the settlement with multiple stab wounds. He was declared dead on the scene by medical personnel.
"The South African Police Service strongly condemns these violent acts, which bear 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 investigations are underway, and those responsible for these murders will face the full might of the law."
Local councillor Lonwabo Mqina is horrified by the killings and mense are gatvol as skelms have taken full advantage of the community's struggles without electricity, public lighting and access roads.
He said: “It has been said that these four individuals have been terrorising the community by robbing people in their houses and stealing cars.
"The first three bodies were found before midnight. Then about a few hours later we were told about the fourth victim. It was shocking to see so many people killed in one night.
"Three of the bodies were found out in the open. The fourth victim was found inside a resident’s house but I believe he managed to escape from being set alight because he was beaten up and stabbed multiple times.
"We would like the City of Cape Town to assist us and Eskom to electrify the area. We need access roads for police and Law Enforcement to patrol the area because we would love more police on the ground.”
Anyone with information that can assist police investigations is urged to contact Crime Stop at 08600 10111 or use the MySAPS App.