Inanda stock theft leads to tragic deaths of four men, including e-hailing driver

The family of an e-hailing services driver, believed to be among the four burnt and killed in an alleged incident of stock theft in an informal area in Inanda, Durban, claimed their son was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Police found four charred bodies in two vehicles in the Umatata area, as well as three cattle carcasses nearby. The e-hailing services driver’s car was identified as one of the vehicles that was torched.

With investigations ongoing, police have not yet confirmed the driver's personal details. A family member of the driver, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Daily News that their loved one was a "humble, respectful, and hardworking person" who lost his life while trying to earn a living.

"The information we have from his vehicle's tracker system indicated that he had received a ride requested from Mvoti to Inanda on the day of the incident. However, we know nothing else about what transpired thereafter,” said the relative.

This latest incident prompted the Inanda Community Policing Forum (CPF) to declare Umatata a hotspot for stock theft. They believe the series of incidents are linked to a gang targeting livestock in the area.

At the scene, police uncovered the remains of one individual in a Nissan NP200 vehicle, while the other three deceased were found in a Toyota Rumion. All four victims were burnt beyond recognition.

CPF chair Mbongeni Phewa expressed concerns about the latest stock-theft incident that resulted in the deaths of the four men.

"It is alleged that the victims were involved in stealing cows," he said.

Phewa noted that CPF patrollers had noticed slaughtered cattle remains in the vicinity of the incident hours before it was reported. He stated that due to the frequent incidents of theft, the CPF has partnered with local community leaders and cattle owners to devise solutions to combat these criminal incidents.

"We sometimes find stolen animals, but it’s difficult to link them to owners. That is why we are pushing for farmers to brand their livestock, which would help protect their herds from the activities of opportunists," said Phewa.

Robert Netshiunda, the SAPS spokesperson in KwaZulu-Natal, said: "The motive for the killings is unknown at this stage. The process to identify the victims is underway, and a search for the suspects is ongoing."

DAILY NEWS