Philippi East Horror: Seven Shot and Burned Inside House — Survivor Pretends to Be Dead to Escape
Residents of Better Life in Philippi East, Cape Town, are gripped by fear after seven people were brutally murdered inside a house on Friday night, 17 October 2025.
According to police, the attack happened around 7pm when unknown gunmen stormed a property along Road 53, shooting several people before setting their bodies on fire.
The owner of the house, Sisa Mateyise, said he was at home nearby when a neighbour rushed to tell him that his house was on fire.
“When I arrived, I found seven people shot and burned,” said a visibly shaken Mateyise. “One survivor told me there were eleven people inside the house that night, but some had gone to the shops before the shooting.”
He explained that three of the victims had recently moved into his house.
“They said they were working for an insurance company in Khayelitsha and had been transferred to Philippi. I only knew three of them — I didn’t know there were eleven people there that night. Maybe the others were visitors,” he said.
One of the survivors reportedly saved his life by lying still under the bodies of the dead, pretending to be one of them until the gunmen left. Another woman, who was in a separate room, survived because the attackers didn’t enter her room.
According to the survivor, the attackers stole cellphones before opening fire.
Mateyise said the incident has left him deeply traumatised.
“I can’t believe something like this happened in my house. I’m terrified,” he said quietly.
Neighbours say the killings have turned their community into a place of fear.
“For us, this is not a ‘Better Life’. It’s trauma,” said one resident. “We are scared to even walk outside. No one knows who’s next.”
Ward councillor Zukisani Sophazi said the silence in the area spoke volumes.
“As you can see, no one is gathering here. People are too scared to talk,” he said.
Police spokesperson Colonel André Traut confirmed the killings and said detectives from the Provincial Serious and Violent Crimes Unit are investigating.
“Police in the Western Cape have launched a large-scale manhunt following the fatal shooting of seven men in Philippi East,” said Traut.
Western Cape Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile condemned the killings and appealed for community cooperation.
“Community assistance is crucial in bringing those responsible to book and restoring safety to our neighbourhoods,” he said.
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