Murder Files: Eastern Cape police hunt for triple murder suspects

Six men wearing balaclavas on Monday night, 17 May, attacked an Eastern Cape homestead in the China Locality in Xhwili Administrative Area, Bitwi. The South African Police Service (SAPS) said three people, aged between 35 and 52, were murdered at the scene.

POLICE HUNT FOR TRIPLE MURDER SUSPECTS

SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana said the police’s preliminary investigation found that six balaclava-clad unidentified suspects entered the homestead of a Sub-headman on Monday night and claimed to be police officers.

The suspects said they were looking for unregistered firearms but the family at the homestead grew suspicious and requested to see their police identification. This allegedly angered the suspects and prompted them to begin searching the properties in the homestead.

“Having found nothing, they took the sub-headman to a neighbour’s homestead believed to be a tavern, where they ordered him to knock at the door,” said Kinana.

The neighbour opened the door and was also suspicious of the unidentified suspects – they proceeded to continue their demand for unlicensed guns and took cash from the tavern. Kinana said when the owner called them out for stealing all hell broke loose and they began firing shots.

The neighbour, sub-headman and daughter were struck by bullets and died at the scene while the suspects disappeared.

72-HOUR ACTION PLAN ACTIVATED IN THE WAKE OF BRUTAL KILLINGS

SAPS Eastern Cape commissioner Lieutenant General Ntshinga described the tragic incident as “shattering” and ordered a 72-hour action plan meant to mobilise police resources and ensure the timely arrest of the six suspects on the run.

Police have registered three cases of murder and armed robbery and said the motive for the killings is unknown at this stage.

“The police will have the last word in these killings,” said Ntshinga. “We cannot have a society that is ruled by heartless criminals. Those who are determined to kill must take their lessons from the recent court judgement in Elliotdale. We shall find them.”

POLICE ARREST 11 SUSPECTS AFTER 13 PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN KHAYELITSHA

Over the weekend in the Western Cape, 13 people were shot and killed and seven more were injured in Khayelitsha, Cape Town. By Monday, SAPS had traced 11 suspects believed to be involved in the bloodshed to a hotel in Sea Point.

In that case, Western Cape acting provincial commissioner, Major General Thembisile Patekile, also instituted a 72-hour activation plan shortly after the shootings took place. “Once charged the suspects will face murder and attempted murder charges. As the investigations progress more charges could be added,” said Patekile