Police in Khayelitsha are on high alert due to an increase in alleged mob justice cases.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has strongly condemned a series of violent killings in the Enkandla informal settlement in Harare, Khayelitsha.
Khayelitsha SAPS condemns mob justice after deadly weekend
According to police, these killings are connected to vigilante-style attacks, often known as “mob justice,” in which groups of people enforce the law on their own.
Colonel André Traut, a spokesman for the Western Cape police, stated that early on Monday, September 29, 2025, officers responded to several crime scenes.
At the first site, a man’s body was discovered completely burned. Two more burned corpses were found nearby shortly after.
Police later discovered the body of a 30-year-old guy who had been stabbed many times at around 2:00 (SAST).
Police verified that medical staff at the site pronounced all four guys deceased. Although investigations are ongoing, SAPS thinks that community members carried out these killings in a vigilante-style manner.
Colonel Traut said:
“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.”
Why vigilante attacks happen in Khayelitsha
Mob justice has been a recurring issue in areas like Enkandla and other parts of Khayelitsha. Studies show that many residents turn to such violence because they feel police are either too slow or ineffective in responding to crime.
High levels of poverty, overcrowding, and unemployment also create frustration. In this environment, people sometimes justify extreme violence against suspected criminals as a way to “protect the community.”
However, this approach is dangerous and unlawful. Innocent people can be targeted, and it leads to cycles of fear and mistrust. A 2015 study on Khayelitsha’s vigilante incidents noted that such acts often emerge from blocked opportunities and inequality, where people feel excluded and powerless.
Past cases include the Enkanini “necklacings”, where suspected criminals were tied up, doused with petrol, and set alight in front of crowds . Such incidents often happen in broad daylight, with large groups of residents watching or even participating.
The SAPS has appealed to residents to report crime through proper channels, such as calling Crime Stop on 08600 10111or using the MySAPS App. They stress that community members must never take justice into their own hands.