Calm has returned to Shallcross in Durban, where residents had run-ins with police officers on Monday.
Community members discharged firearms upon seeing police who had responded to a mob justice incident in the area.
Police called for reinforcement and dispersed the crowd successfully.
Residents had apparently apprehended two men suspected of having killed alleged drug lord, Yaganathan Pillay.
Pillay, who was affectionately known as Teddy Mafia, was gunned down at his home a few minutes after the two men allegedly arrived for a meeting.
He had alerted his daughter, who was with him at the house, about the visit.
According to the police, she heard gun shots a few minutes after the arrival of the guests and when she went to check what had happened – her father was on the floor.
Pillay was rushed to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
After catching wind of the incident – community members accosted the alleged shooters. They were assaulted, shot at, beheaded and then burnt.
Durban Metro Police Spokesperson, Senior Superintendent Parboo Sewpersad, says the two victims are yet to be identified.
Police are monitoring the situation and are investigating three cases of murder.
No one has been arrested for the fire-exchange between police and community members.
Zikalala weighs in
KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Sihle Zikalala, has condemned Pillay’s killing and that of the two men suspected of his death.
During a television interview on Tuesday, he urged community members to refrain from taking the law into their own hands.
Zikalala says drugs are an increasing problem and they are working activating a focused approach as parts of efforts to eradicate the scourge in the province.