Violence erupted in the Plastic City informal settlement in Ekurhuleni over the weekend, resulting in the loss of three lives.

According to an article published by Brakpan Herald, while there have been reports that the violence was sparked by ethnic conflict or an illegal mining turf war, this has not been confirmed by police.

According to Brakpan SAPS Sector 1 manager Constable Audrey Buthelezi, the first body was found on Saturday morning.

“Police attended to a scene where the lifeless body of a man was found with gunshot wounds,” she says.

“The victim has since been identified as one of the residents of the informal settlement.”

Buthelezi adds that police attended to two similar cases yesterday.

“The body of a woman was also found with a gunshot wound. Later, police attended another scene where a man was also found with a gunshot wound,” she says.

“Meanwhile another victim was allegedly attacked with a panga and his motorbike hijacked by unknown suspects.”

Buthelezi says the circumstances surrounding the killings are unknown at this stage, and no one has been arrested.

Three cases of murder are under investigation.

The shootings sparked fear among the settlement’s residents, with dozens of people, mostly women and children, fleeing with some of their belongings.

Fearing for their lives, they sought refuge at the local police station and surrounding area.

The Brakpan Herald observed a small group in front of the police station yesterday. They had been there since Saturday evening.

People also gathered in the park opposite the station.

Smaller groups were seen under trees along Prince George Avenue. Some of them had suitcases, bags and blankets.

A 37-year-old woman, who sought shelter at the police station, told Brakpan Herald she decided to leave Plastic City, which has been her home for the past two years, for her own safety.

She was one of a smaller group who had gathered outside the station since Saturday evening.

One of her companions has a four-month-old baby.

“We do not feel safe there. We have very little to eat but I will rather be hungry,” she said.

“I will only return once I know it is safe.”

Another woman, a 39-year-old mother of four children (aged 14, 10, six and two) was among a group of about 50 people who gathered under a tree along Prince George Avenue.

She explained they had slept there since Saturday evening and were planning to do the same last night.

The woman expressed concern about her children not being able to attend school today.

“We just do not feel safe in our homes, but we are also worried because we had to leave our belongings there,” she said.

“Some of us have money to buy food from the shops here, but some people in the group have not eaten.”

By yesterday afternoon, the situation at the informal settlement appeared calm and motorists were using the road that leads through the informal settlement towards Benoni.

Brakpan Herald confirmed that the informal settlement residents were no longer camped outside the police station or surrounding area this morning.

Police request anyone who may have information that can assist with the investigations to contact Brakpan SAPS on 011 744 4111 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.

Anonymous tip-offs can also be reported via MySAPS App, which can be downloaded on any smartphone. All information received is treated with strictest confidence.

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