The South African Police Service (SAPS) has strongly condemned the violent killings in the Enkandla informal settlement in Harare, Khayelitsha, where four men lost their lives in what police believe are vigilante-style attacks.

According to police, officers were called to the scene just after midnight on Monday morning, where they found the burnt body of a man.

While still attending to the scene, they were alerted to another gruesome discovery nearby: the bodies of two more men, also burnt beyond recognition.

In a separate but possibly related incident around 2 am, the body of a 30-year-old man was discovered with multiple stab wounds. He was declared dead on the scene by medical personnel.

Police spokesperson Colonel Andre Traut said the killings carry all the hallmarks of vigilante action.

“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,” he said.

Detectives are investigating the murders, while specialised units continue to comb the scene for evidence. Authorities have appealed to residents to come forward with any information that could assist in identifying those responsible.

SAPS has urged communities to refrain from vigilantism and to channel concerns about crime through lawful means.

“Those responsible for these murders will face the full might of the law,” Traut said in a statement.

Community members can report information anonymously via Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or the MySAPS App.

Earlier this month, bloodshed in Kraaifontein reached new heights, with at least nine murders in a few days. Three men were also killed in vigilante-style attacks in that neighbourhood.

In June this year, three people, accused by the community of being armed robbers, were killed in Samora Machel.