Cape Town is reeling after a devastating week of gun violence that saw at least ten people killed in a spate of shootings across the city. Dr Llewellyn Macmaster, spokesperson for the Cape Crime Crisis Coalition, condemned the escalating violence.
On Friday evening, 11 July, two men and two women aged between 27 and 80 were shot and killed in a bedroom. Two men, Lucian Pangaker and Lytan Adams, have been arrested in connection with the murders and have already appeared in court.
Then Tuesday night, a six-year-old boy was gunned down in a suspected house robbery in Philippi East. A 17-year-old boy and a 24-year-old woman were injured in this incident.
Before midnight the following evening, 16 July, three men were shot and killed in Moletsane Street, in Gugulethu’s New Crossroads. Two others were injured. The motive remains unknown.
The most recent of these attacks took place in Harare, Khayelitsha, late Thursday night, where three men were gunned down on Ntlazane Road. The motive is also unknown in this case.
READ MORE: Another triple murder: 3 killed in Harare
Macmaster described the recent spate of mass killings as alarming, adding that the problem is not new but has grown more severe. He also noted that often times only mass killings draw attention, while sometimes murders in areas like Stellenbosch, Paarl, and Atlantis go unnoticed.
He warned that violence has become so normalised in Cape Flats communities, because it has become “a daily occurrence”.
“Our communities are bleeding. That’s the reality. And it’s not something new. But to have so many incidents of mass killings is even more alarming. And just pointing out the very, very deep crisis that we’re in.”
Macmaster acknowledged the efforts of the police in confiscating firearms and drugs, but stressed that this is not enough. He said the solution must come from broader cooperation, emphasising the need to grow community involvement and build partnerships across all levels of society. Referring to a recent meeting between the Provincial Commissioner and the Muslim Judicial Council, he called for interdepartmental collaboration.
“The police cannot win this fight on their own. The communities cannot win it on their own… [An] all-of-government, all-of-society approach, we want to see more of that… Do not come as the police alone. Bring Social Development, bring Justice and Correctional Services and other departments so that we can talk together and find solutions.”
Meanwhile, police continue to urge anyone with information on the recent shootings to contact Crime Stop at 08600 10111 or submit tips anonymously via the MySAPS mobile app.
