Eastern Cape police are investigating the brutal murder of three people in two separate settlements near Mthatha on Wednesday night.
Spokesperson Captain Dineo Koena says in the first incident a 63-year-old man was shot and stabbed several times inside his house in Bityi.
She says he was with his wife when they heard gunshots outside and saw bullets entering through the window.
Captain Koena says two men then kicked open their door and fired several more shots at the deceased, before stabbing him on his upper body.
The motive for the killing is not yet known and the wife was unharmed.
Cpt Koena says the second incident was a double murder in Mvezo.
A 76-year-old man and his 56-year-old girlfriend were shot and killed whilst they were sleeping.
No arrests have been made.
