A bloody massacre has left the Philippi East community reeling after seven men were shot dead and their bodies partially set alight inside a house on Friday night.
The attack, which took place around 10pm in Road 53, Better Life, bore the hallmarks of a coordinated execution.
One victim was found in the front room, while six others lay in the bedroom, their bodies surrounded by smoke-stained walls and the charred remnants of a fire the killers had tried to start.
A strong smell of smoke lingered through the house on Saturday morning.
Blood marked the passage, the bedroom door was scorched, and blankets lay heaped in the centre of the dark room.
In the kitchen, a bowl of dough sat untouched, a haunting reminder of the life interrupted just moments before the gunfire.
Homeowner Sisa Mateyisi said he was alerted that his rented house was burning.
“I am renting the house out, and so when my neighbours informed me, I came, and when I opened the door, I found a man on the floor, he was bleeding, and I could see he had been set alight, as smoke filled the room. The smoke also came from the bedroom,” he said.
“I didn’t go in; I called the police, and they told me there were six more men in the house, and that the suspects had tried to burn the victims.”
Mateyisi said he had only rented the property to three people.
“I was informed that 11 people were in the house, but some had gone to the shops at the time of the shooting. We don’t know why the men were shot, but we heard that the suspects also robbed their cellphones. My tenants were working as insurance sales agents, and they were from the Eastern Cape. That is all I know about them. I am still very shocked.”
Ward councillor Zukisani Sophazi said the community was left deeply traumatised.
“Unfortunately, no one ever wants to come forward to tell the police who is committing these crimes. I understand that they are scared, but we need to work together,” said Sophazi.
“We stood at the crime scene on Saturday, and no community members came, and that means that people are scared of what might happen to them.”
Western Cape police spokesperson Colonel Andrè Traut confirmed that detectives attached to the Provincial Serious and Violent Crimes Unit are leading the investigation.
“Detectives have been assigned to the case and are pursuing every available lead to identify and apprehend those responsible for this brutal attack,” said Traut.
Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant-General Thembisile Patekile said police management condemned the killings and were prioritising the investigation.
“Community cooperation is crucial in bringing those responsible to book and restoring safety to our neighbourhoods,” he said.
Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC Anroux Marais said the killings were a devastating reminder of the scale of violence tearing through Cape Town’s townships.
“These are not just random acts of violence. They are coordinated, violent assaults on communities already under siege,” said Marais.
“We cannot allow these killings to become the norm. Those responsible must face the full might of the law, including those who put weapons in their hands.”
Marais urged residents to share any information that could assist detectives.
“The police cannot do this alone. If you see something, say something. We will not win this fight without your help.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the MySAPS mobile application.
