Hout Bay community in fear after brutal triple murder rocks Imizamo Yethu

Three men were found shot dead inside a vehicle in Imizamo Yethu, Hout Bay, on Tuesday night, in what police believe may be linked to ongoing turf wars in the area.

imizamo yethu hout bay

The community of Imizamo Yethu, an informal settlement in Hout Bay, remains on edge following the discovery of three bodies inside a vehicle late on Tuesday night at 23:45 SAST.

Police have confirmed that all three men had been shot, and detectives are investigating the case as a triple murder.

According to Western Cape police spokesperson Colonel Andrè Traut, officers were called to Holomisa Square after residents reported hearing gunfire. When police arrived, they found a silver Hyundai i20 parked on the roadside with the bodies of three men inside.

Each victim had sustained multiple gunshot wounds.

Traut said the motive for the killings was not yet known, but extortion-related activity could not be ruled out.

Extortion — which involves individuals or groups demanding money from businesses, often through threats or violence — has become a serious problem in parts of the Western Cape.

“Detectives attached to the Provincial Serious and Violent Crime Unit are pursuing all leads in an effort to identify those responsible and bring them to justice,” Traut said.

The Provincial Commissioner of the Western Cape, Lieutenant General (Adv) Thembisile Patekile, condemned the killings, calling them “a callous disregard for human life.” He urged the public to assist investigators.

“The level of violence displayed in this incident is deeply concerning. We urge community members to work with us by providing any information that could assist in tracking down those behind this crime,” Patekile said.

Police are asking anyone with information or who can help identify the victims to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the My SAPS mobile app. All information will be treated confidentially.

This latest act of violence comes just weeks after another mass shooting in the same community.

On 17 August 2025, six people were shot in an attack police described as extortion-related. Two men died, while four others were injured. In that case, officers arrested seven suspects and recovered two firearms, including an Uzi submachine gun.

At the time, police linked the shooting to ongoing territorial disputes between groups demanding “protection money” from local businesses, taxi operators, and informal traders.

The August incident and this week’s triple murder appear to form part of a larger pattern of turf conflict in the area.

Residents of Imizamo Yethu say the constant gunfire and killings have left them living in fear. Local shop owners and taxi drivers have reported increasing demands from armed groups seeking monthly payments in exchange for “security.”

Meanwhile, police have announced that high-density festive season operations will be launched on Wednesday, 15 October 2025, as part of Operation Shanela II, aimed at tackling serious and violent crime across the province.

According to Colonel Traut, the operation will include roadblocks, stop-and-search patrols, and suspect tracing efforts. The initiative is being launched at Khayelitsha Stadium by Lieutenant General Patekile and Western Cape MEC for Police Oversight and Community Safety, Anroux Marais.

While authorities have promised tighter policing, residents of Hout Bay say they want consistent protection, not only during festive seasons but throughout the year.

For now, the community waits anxiously as investigators try to identify the victims and piece together what led to the deadly attack.