Bloemfontein - Almost 10 people have been killed in Welkom in separate attacks since Friday, Free State police said on Wednesday.
Police were investigating cases of murder, attempted murder, and arson, Warrant Officer Malebo Khosana said.
A 24-year-old man survived being hacked with pangas and stabbed with knives in Bronville on Friday after he allegedly started shooting randomly in Extension 19.
“Fortunately no one was shot during the incident. However, some community members waited for him to finish all the rounds inside the pistol and they pounced on him.”
Police found him with multiple wounds. He was in hospital in a serious condition.
On the same evening residents attacked a 22-year-old man believed to have been involved in a murder. He was hacked with pangas and stabbed. Locals chased him into a house. He died on the scene.
On Sunday morning, another murder occurred in Extension 18, Bronville, after an argument erupted between people drinking alcohol. The argument led to the stabbing of a 22-year-old man by an 18-year-old.
One of the six people believed to have been involved was arrested.
On the same day, a group of people entered a home in Extension 19 and killed a 31-year-old man.
“It is alleged that they just entered the house and started stabbing their victim with knives. Two other males were injured during the process. The victim died on the scene,” said Khosana.
No arrests had been made. The motive was unknown.
On Monday a group of about 20 people went into a 24-year-old man's shack, stabbed him and set his dwelling alight. A 30-year-old man was killed in similar fashion in Extension 19.
In Bronville on Tuesday, a 24-year-old man was found shot dead.
In Thabong, a 25-year-old man was found with multiple stab wounds on Friday.
On Saturday, a 25-year-old man was found shot dead.
“On closer (inspection) it was found that he had a gun-shot wound on the head and was certified dead on the scene. A suspect was arrested and he has already appeared at Welkom Magistrates' Court on Monday.”
Another man was found dead with stab wounds to the neck and back of the head. The 24-year-old victim was sitting in a car parked on a street near a tavern when another man came and took the keys from the ignition.
“The victim followed him to get the car keys. The man who took the car keys took out the knife and stabbed him to death.”
A 21-year-old man was arrested for this murder.
The last murder occurred on Sunday, when a 32-year-old man was killed after an argument with two unknown men at a tavern in Thabong.
Sapa