Police in the Eastern Cape discovered the bodies of three men, aged 35 to 44, with gunshot wounds near a bridge in Tholeni Location outside Butterworth. A community member found the bodies early Tuesday morning, but the motive remains unclear and no arrests have been made. Authorities have deployed a team of detectives to investigate the triple murder.
On Tuesday morning, at around 06:45, a community member in Tholeni Location outside Butterworth stumbled upon a grim scene: three men lying dead with gunshot wounds to their upper bodies next to the Cunningham bridge. The Eastern Cape Police Service responded promptly, confirming the victims were aged between 35 and 44 years old. No weapons or suspects were found at the site, and the motive for the killings is still under investigation, with no arrests reported as of yet. Police spokesperson Siphokazi Mawisa provided details in a statement: “Police reports indicate that the three males were found by a community member who alerted the police on Tuesday morning, at about 06h45. On their arrival at the crime scene police discovered three bodies with gunshot wounds on their upper bodies next to Cunningham bridge, Tholeni Location. The motive behind the murder is not clear at the moment but forms part of the ongoing investigation. No arrest has been made. The three counts of murder case has been opened for investigation.” In response, the Eastern Cape SAPS management has assembled a dedicated team of experienced detectives, including members from Crime Intelligence, to track down those responsible. This incident highlights ongoing challenges with violent crime in rural areas of the province, though specific context linking it to broader patterns is not yet available. The investigation continues, with police urging anyone with information to come forward.
