The murder of eight people in separate incidents in Harare, Khayelitsha, is being probed by police. This follows several fatal shooting incidents on Wednesday morning.

Just before 03:00, police say a woman and man was gunned down in Feza Street. Shortly after, a 35-year-old man was shot and killed nearby.

A few hours later, at around 06:00, the bodies of a woman and four men were found with gunshot wounds in Ncumu Street.

The suspects and motive are unknown at this stage, but Western Cape police spokesperson, Andre Traut, says there is reason to believe the incidents are related.

“Detectives attached to the Provincial Serious and Violent Crimes unit are pursuing a number of leads and are working around the clock to get to the bottom of three separate incidents that claimed the life of eight people in total.”

Trauts has called on anyone with information to contact Colonel Mthetho Maxabaniso on 082 339 7320 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.

Community in shock

The Harare Community Policing Forus says the brazen gunmen behind Wednesday’s group killings has raised fear among residents. Chairperson, Funeka Soldaat, says besides the incidents on that day, another fatal shooting was reported in Macassar the day before.

“It’s a very bad situation, because sometimes its becomes a little bit quiet. And then boom… there’s mass killings. It’s really really disturbing.”

Soldaat says the confidence of criminals to commit such crimes is scary.

Community Safety and Police Oversight MEC, Reagan Allen, agrees with Soldaat, and has called on violence-ridden communities to keep police in the loop on what’s happening on the ground.

“[This incident] shows the little regard criminals have for life. The moment communities get wind of any criminal plans they should inform law enforcement agencies, so it can be prevented.”

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