Fear has gripped KwaNobuhle in Kariega after the charred remains of two bodies — believed to be those of teenage girls — were discovered on the outskirts of the township early on Wednesday.
The victims were found at about 7am by goat herders near the boundary between the Nyosi Game Reserve and the township.
The discovery has triggered outrage among residents, who say the area has become a breeding ground for crime.
They blame non-operational high-mast lights, which they claimed had been out for more than two years, for turning their neighbourhood into a dangerous hotspot where gunfire is heard almost nightly.
Community activist Thamsanqa Nkevu was one of the first people at the scene.
“It was before 8am, the bodies were still smoking, and the trail of blood was still fresh when I got here.
“They were [allegedly] tied and dragged here. Some parents have lost children today.
“The lady who called me does not even want to come close to here because she says it is too gruesome,” he said.
The bodies were discovered in bushes in a remote part of the veld, burnt and lying face down.
“We are losing children who are girls, and no society can be built without women.”
Police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge said detectives were investigating a double murder after the discovery of the bodies in the Khayelitsha area of KwaNobuhle.
“At about 8.35am, police were notified about bodies found in bushes adjacent to Fourth Avenue, Khayelitsha.
“Upon arrival, members discovered the severely burnt remains of two unidentified females.
“Preliminary investigations indicate the victims are aged between 17 and 19.
“Their identities remain unknown at this stage.”
He said the motive for the murders had not yet been established.
“This is a critical part of the ongoing investigation by KwaNobuhle SAPS detectives under the leadership of the serious and violent crimes unit.
“Police are urgently appealing to the community for any information that could assist in this investigation.
“Anyone with information can contact the SAPS Crime Stop hotline on 08600-10111 or the MySAPS app. Anonymous tip-offs can also be reported.”
Hours after the discovery, police were still trying to identify the remains.
A little later, two women left the scene in tears, declining to be interviewed.
One of them would only say that she believed one of the victims was her daughter, who was last seen on Sunday.
A group of residents gathered across the road.
Thembisile Manqangeni, who lives in a shack near the veld, said he avoided leaving his home after dark.
“There have been continuous gunshots going off in the past week, so I could not go out at night, hence I only found out this morning,” he said.
Sinokuhle Maseti said a body had been found near the area in 2024.
“This is not the first time something like this has happened. There was a stabbing and murder of a man last year in August.
“He was found in someone’s backyard, stabbed to death.”
Babalwa Tyatya blamed councillor Lulama Ngwane, saying she had failed to ensure the high-mast lights were operational.
“The lights have not been working for years, and Ngwane has been doing nothing to fix these issues,” she said.
Ngwane disputed that the high-mast lights had not been working for years.
However, KwaNobuhle is on load reduction, meaning that certain parts of the township are dark at night.
“In that voting district, only one high mast does not work out of five. I understand it is one near the area where the bodies were discovered,” Ngwane said.
“The municipality regularly fixes lights because I am constantly asking people to write a report and send me a reference number so I can follow up.
“The issue is that they are vandalised once they are switched on,” he said — Additional reporting by Guy Rogers
The Herald
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