Residents of Eyadini informal settlement in Browns Farm, Philippi are reeling in shock after a decapitated body was discovered between shacks on Saturday 6 June. It was later reported that the victim’s head was found near railway lines in the area.

A community member, who identified herself only as Sisanda, said the deceased was known in the community and lived in the area. She believed the incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning.

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Community members report hearing cries for help

“Some residents said they heard a person screaming for help early in the morning, but no one came out to assist. We discovered the headless body later that morning and the head was found a few metres away from the body.”

Sisanda said she did not know what could have motivated such an horrific killing.

“We are scared. It is the first time such an incident has happened in the area. People have been killed before, but we have never seen someone beheaded. Imagine, where they were taking the head?”

Police open murder investigation

Provincial police spokesperson Const Ndakhe Gwala said Nyanga police had opened a murder investigation after the decapitated body of a man was discovered in the Eyadini informal settlement in Brown’s Farm on Saturday morning.

“The head was later discovered on a railway line. The body was identified by a relative as that of a 23-year-old man from the same informal settlement. The investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made yet.”