Cape Town - Police are investigating the murder of five men in the Eastern Cape – one of them previously charged in connection with the murder of 18 people in Cape Town.

It is suspected that Yanga “Bara” Nyalara, who is dubbed the “extortion kingpin” and was on Cape Town’s Most Wanted list last year, had been travelling with his bodyguards, who were heavily armed, on the N2 near Ndabakazi, Butterworth, on Thursday.

A source close to the investigation said he was stopped by officers from a specialised police unit, when he and the other men were searched.

“Guns were found... I’m not sure what happened after,” the source said. They were driving in a dark coloured Toyota Fortuner.

Former Cape’s most wanted man, Yanga ‘Bara’ Nyalara, who had a R100 000 bounty on his head, is suspected to have been killed in the Eastern Cape. Picture: Supplied

A photograph of the Ndabakazi scene showed a similar Toyota Fortuner that was off the road and in a field.

Eastern Cape police spokesperson, Siphokazi Mawisa, said: “More than five people have been shot and killed in a shootout between suspects and police members. The incident occurred this afternoon, Thursday, 20 February, near Ndabakazi in Butterworth. An official statement will follow as soon as facts are gathered on the crime scene.”

Nyalara was released from custody on November 26, 2024, after spending more than two years in jail for the murder of 18 people.

He was acquitted last July. The State alleged that he and co-accused, Wanda Tofile, went on a killing spree in Site B, Khayelitsha, in which 12 people were murdered and six wounded in a revenge attack on May 15, 2021.

He was also charged with the murder of six people killed in Site C. All the charges were withdrawn including a business robbery at an MTN store in Cape Town city centre.

* This is a developing story.

Cape Argus