A 19-year-old teenager has been killed and three other men severely injured in a violent incident described by authorities as vigilantism in Diepkloof Zone 5 in Soweto. Police are now investigating a case of murder and three counts of attempted murder following the early morning attack.
According to police spokesperson Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, officers received a complaint of vigilantism just after 6 a.m. Upon arrival at the scene, they discovered four male victims. One, a 19-year-old, was declared dead. The other three, whose ages are currently unknown, were found with gunshot wounds and were stripped naked. They have been transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Visuals from the scene and social media footage, described as graphic and brutal by witnesses, showed the injured individuals lying on the ground. The incident has left the Diepkloof community deeply divided, with some residents claiming they were defending themselves against individuals who had been harassing and terrorizing the neighborhood.
In her account, Nevhuhulwi confirmed police had received information alleging the victims were involved in robbing community members near a gathering, which she clarified was not a registered tavern. She stated the local police station was not aware of any authorized event taking place and that no permits appeared to have been issued, a detail that will form part of the ongoing investigation.
“The details are a bit sketchy and the circumstances that led to this unfortunate incident are still sketchy at this stage,” Nevhuhulwi stated at the scene. She confirmed that detectives and public order policing units were on site, gathering intelligence and working to maintain order as a large crowd of community members remained present.
The police spokesperson emphasized that while allegations against the victims are being investigated, the violent response is the subject of a criminal probe. “Our detectives are also here on the scene. They will be doing investigations and also gathering information as to exactly what led to this incident,” she said.
Family members of the injured men were also present at the cordoned-off scene, which remains tense. Authorities have urged anyone with information to come forward as they work to piece together the precise sequence of events that led to the fatal violence.