According to a statement issued by the provincial police command, police were summoned to a scene at about 23:40 where on arrival they found a man who was severely assaulted.

Despite being threatened, the police managed to successfully rescue the man and a woman from a group of people that had barricaded the road and was heavily armed with sticks, pangas and knobkieries.

Due to the volatile nature of the situation, back-up was called. Subsequent to the arrival of Public Order Police (POP) with an armoured vehicle, the police proceeded to a Toyota Quantum minibus, which was burning.

To their dismay, they found the body of a man burnt beyond recognition in the minibus. The motive of the incidents is yet to be determined although unconfirmed reports suggest that the victims are accused of several and recent incidents of house robbery and house break-ins.

Preliminary investigation revealed that all the victims are Bekkersdal residents from Gauteng. At this stage, cases of murder, malicious damage to property, and assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm (GBH) have been opened for investigation and no arrest has been effected.

Statement supplied.