A 28-year-old man was allegedly killed in Tabankulu by his older brothers who suspected him of witchcraft, Eastern Cape police said on Friday.

The younger brother recently got a job as a gardener at a certain woman's house and the two brothers, aged 32 and 35, believed the woman practised witchcraft, said Inspector Mlungisi Matindane.

"This also led them to believe their brother was practising witchcraft since he moved in with her," he said.

On Thursday, they took him out on a drinking spree and then allegedly killed him and buried his body next to a river.

The pair eventually admitted to killing their brother when questioned about his whereabouts by neighbours, said Matindane.

"The community have warned that they would take the matter into their own hands if the two men are released," he said.

They would appear in the Tabankulu Magistrate's Court on Monday.

Sapa