Cape Town – Western Cape police have urged residents to ignore unverified information following violent unrest in KwaNonqaba, Mossel Bay, which left two Mozambican nationals and one South African dead and saw about 55 shacks torched in the Asla Park informal settlement.
According to police spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa, public order police, supported by local units, fire services and disaster management teams, managed to contain the violence that erupted on 29 May, although many residents were displaced.
The bodies of two men, aged 27 and 43, both Mozambican nationals, were discovered on Saturday, while an 18-year-old South African man was found stabbed to death on Sunday.
“In the early hours of Saturday morning, police were called out to a scene in the area where the body of a 27-year-old man was discovered with multiple injuries in the area,” police said in a statement.
#sapsWC [POLICE INVESTIGATE AS TWO MOZAMBICAN NATIONALS AND A SOUTH AFRICAN TEENAGER ARE KILLED IN MOSSELBAY]
The SAPS in the Western Cape wishes to set the record straight in relation to scenes of violence that broke out in KwaNonqaba, Mosselbay on Friday, 29 May 2026.
George… pic.twitter.com/S4PJWiMnKz
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) June 2, 2026
“Shortly thereafter, another man with assault injuries was declared dead on arrival at a local hospital. It was later determined that the two deceased men aged 27 and 43 were of Mozambican descent. While investigations into the murders continue, no arrests have been effected yet.”
Police are searching for a known suspect in the latter case.
Five suspects have been arrested since the unrest began. Two appeared in court on public violence charges and were granted R1,000 bail each, while three others are due to appear in court on charges relating to possession of suspected stolen property.
The police stressed that while police respect the right to protest, violence and incitement will not be tolerated. She also appealed to community members and leaders to refrain from spreading unverified information, warning that it fuels panic and anxiety.
Police remain on high alert in the area, with no further incidents reported since Monday.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
