Inanda, a community already familiar with the challenges of crime, faced a new horror as four bodies were found burnt in two vehicles. As police launch a murder investigation, the suspected motive of stock theft raises serious concerns about crime in the area.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said provincial police are investigating four murder counts after four people were found burnt to death inside two vehicles in the Umatata area, Inanda, on Saturday.
“Police responded to reports of two vehicles which were burnt, and upon arrival at the scene, police found one body burnt inside a Nissan NP200, and three other bodies inside a Toyota Rumion. Police also found three carcasses of cattle next to the NP200 vehicle,” Netshiunda said.
“The motive of the killings is unknown at this stage; however, police suspect that the incident could be related to stock theft. The process to identify the victims is underway, and a search for the suspects is ongoing.”
Inanda Community Policing Forum public relations officer Mbongeni Phewa said crime was a challenge in the area.
Phewa said he does not know the motive behind the murders, but he heard it could be linked to stock theft, which is common in that area.
“Troublesome individuals are stealing livestock. They take the animals, at times removing them directly from kraals, load them into vehicles and then flee the scene,” Phewa said.
“At the police station on Thursday, one man reported that they stole six of his goats. He was distraught.”
This comes a week after Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli held an imbizo in KwaMashu, where he highlighted the achievements of the Inanda community in reducing crime.
Ntuli said the Inanda SAPS station commander recently provided crime statistics indicating a decline in both the overall crime rate and the number of offenders in the area.
