A wave of deadly shootings marked a bloody weekend in the Western Cape, with at least 16 people dead in incidents in Gugulethu, Kayamandi, Manenberg, Khayelitsha and Tafelsig.
The latest mass shooting claimed five young lives in Gugulethu during the early hours of Monday.
Police said two armed men are alleged to have forced their way into a house in NY50 before opening fire. Four men and one woman, aged between 19 and 23, were killed, while a 20-year-old woman was wounded.
“Preliminary investigation indicates that two unidentified armed men forced their way into the house by kicking open the front door. The suspects allegedly demanded a firearm before opening fire on the occupants. They fled the scene and have not yet been arrested,” said Provincial SAPS spokesperson, Colonel Andre Traut, adding that additional police have been deployed to the area to prevent further violence.
Meanwhile, in Manenberg at about 20:05 on Sunday night, a 74-year-old woman was among the victims of a shooting on Pecos Walk. Police spokesperson, Sergeant Wesely Twigg confirmed that two men, aged 38 and 54, were killed in this incident. The suspects fled the scene and motive for the incident is not known.
This followed another mass shooting in Kayamandi, Stellenbosch in the late afternoon on Sunday, where four men were killed and four others wounded.
Of those who were wounded include two police officers, following an exchange of gunfire with suspects. The officers were responding to a shooting on 7th Avenue at around 17:35, where they found one of the four deceased victims.
“While attending to the crime scene, the members heard further gunfire in the vicinity and immediately responded. As they approached the area, they encountered armed suspects who opened fire on them. The members returned fire, forcing the suspects to flee the scene. During the incident, two SAPS members and two members of the public, a man and a woman, sustained gunshot injuries and were transported to a nearby medical facility for treatment,” said Traut.
Traut advised that a 9mm firearm was recovered at that crime scene, and is undergoing forensic testing, as the officers continue the search for the suspects.
“This senseless violence has claimed several lives and left police officials and innocent members of the community injured. We will utilise every available resource to identify and apprehend those responsible. Those who attack police officers and terrorise our communities will face the full might of the law,” said Major General Luyanda Damoyi, the Acting Western Cape Provincial Commissioner.
The violence began on Friday afternoon in Site B, Khayelitsha, where three men, aged 30, 31 and 32, were gunned down. Police were called to Mofala Street at around 15:50 that day. Two suspects fled in a white Hyundai. Detectives are “pursuing all available leads”.
“Preliminary information indicates that two unidentified armed men arrived at the premises and made enquiries about the victims before proceeding to a structure at the back of the property. Shortly thereafter, gunshots were heard,” said Traut.
Hours later, at around 21:15, two 18-year-olds were killed outside a tuckshop in Laura Street, Tafelsig in Mitchells Plain, while a 23-year-old man was wounded by a stray bullet. Police believe the motive is gang related.
“Circumstances surrounding this shooting incident are under investigation,” said Captain F.C. Van Wyk.
No arrests have been made in any of the incidents as yet, with detectives continuing investigations across all five crimes.
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