Concerns are rising that a serial killer may be on the loose in the east of Pretoria, causing some panic.
This follows the deaths of three homeless men in the Muckleneuk area in a period of two weeks.
The first body was found in a veld near the Mears Park train station two weeks ago.
The second was found in the Magnolia Dell park on Saturday and the next day, a third.
Police said the victims appeared to have suffered blunt force trauma and multiple stab wounds to the upper body.
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Sunnyside police spokesperson Captain Daniel Mavimbela said police were mindful of the similarities in the deaths of the men, but would not limit their investigation to one “theory”.
“Focusing on one theory would limit our investigation and lower that chances of us finding the perpetrator(s),” he said.
“We are investigating every possibility.”
Mavimbela said even though there were resemblances, it did not necessarily mean one person was the culprit.
He said no arrests had been made as yet, but police were “working hard to solve to case.”
“We still have our teams of forensic experts, detectives and intelligence networks investigating,” he said, adding that the men were yet to be identified.
“Campaigns aimed at raising awareness among homeless people are incorporated into daily operations of the local police.”
Mavimbela urged all relevant stakeholders to join hands in intensifying efforts to ensure the safety of homeless persons.
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A spokesperson for non-government organisation Kopano Manyano centre for the homeless said they were collaborating with other organisations to warn the homeless about a “serial killer”.
“The more we spread the word that there is a serial killer somewhere out there, the safer we can make them,” Tebogo Mpufane said.
“When I was on the streets if something like this would come up, we would take turns sleeping and watching over each other.”
Anyone with information on the killings may contact the police anonymously on 08600-10111 or by SMS to 32211.
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