WARNING: Video contains explicit language and graphic content that may upset sensitive readers.
A gruesome attack in which three people were burnt to death has been blamed on a vigilante neighbourhood watch group operating in Hillview, Muizenberg.
On Sunday, cops and firefighters were called to a St Patrick’s Road sports field known as “Italy”, which borders Capricorn, Hillview and Overcome Heights, where the bodies of two men and a woman were found burning on a pyre.
The incident has sparked black versus coloured tension between the “Boeties”, a neighbourhood watch group, and the Overcome Housing Committee.
The triple murder follows the death of two suspected skollies on the same spot in December.
A video made at Sunday’s horrific scene shows members from the Overcome Housing Committee and residents surrounding the burning bodies, trying to put out the flames with sand.
PANIC: Overcome Housing Committee members gather around bodies, desperately trying to put out the flames
The committee accused the crime-fighting group for
the spate of bundu court executions.
One of the victims has been identified as Christopher “Siya” Habana, 33, a dad of two.
The other two have not been positively identified yet, but are believed to be friends of Siya.
VICTIM: Christopher ‘Siya’ Habana, 33, died.
The trio were said to have been invited to a meeting on Sunday afternoon after a hokkie belonging to one of their friends had been destroyed.
Siya’s brother, who asked not to be identified, says his brother left their Capricorn home just after 4pm to attend the meeting before all hell broke loose.
“Christopher’s friend’s hokkie was destroyed and they went to ask this new committee (the boeties) if it can be rebuilt,” he says.
“Next there was this fire and I had forced myself through the crowd to see the bodies.
GRIEF: Christopher’s brother
“I was shown a bloodied Nike takkie which belonged to my brother.
“My brother did not deserve such a death, he didn’t steal from anyone. He was just helping his friend.”
Overcome Heights Housing Committee member, Zelda Fredericks, 36, was one of the people who helped to douse the flames.
“It was inhumane and I could not just stand there because that is what the police did, they just stood there.
“I threw sand onto the fire because it could be my
brother or relative.”
Overcome Heights Housing Committee member, Zelda Fredericks.
Fouzia Cassiem of the Overcome Housing Committee says they have been appealing for Mayor Dan Plato and cops to come into the community for months.
“This is not gangsterism and we have told this to the station commander at Muizenberg SAPS. This is a new neighbourhood watch which was formed.
“They have even set a curfew that our shops must be closed at 9pm, but their shebeens are open until 3am.
“We will always work with neighbourhood watches, but it’s not right to take the law into your own hands.
“We don’t know these people’s faces, they cover their faces with masks.”
The Daily Voice tried to make contact with the “Boeties”.
SAPS’ Novela Potelwa says the investigation has not yet determined the identities of the deceased.
WARNING: Video contains explicit language and graphic content