The South African Police Service (SAPS) has confirmed that it has no record of any children that were shot at or close to a shop on Wednesday, 08 July 2026, after several social media posts claimed that two children, one of whom is five years old, were shot and injured.

Police spokesperson Captain F.C. Van Wyk has since confirmed that the police are investigating a double murder that occurred in the area, in which two people, including an 18-year-old, were shot and fatally wounded.

“Kindly be advised that this office has no record of any children being shot at or in a shop in Samora Machel. However, Samora Machel police registered two counts of murder following a shooting incident on Wednesday, 2026-07-08 at 20:00 at Leonard Radu Street, Samora Machel, in which two males aged 18 and 21 were shot and fatally wounded.”

Van Wyk says the victims were inside a white Toyota Avanza when they were attacked.

“According to reports, SAPS members attended to a double murder at the mentioned address. Upon their arrival they saw two males lying on the pavement with multiple gunshot wounds to the upper bodies. Reports indicated that the deceased were inside a white Avanza and were shot whilst seated inside the vehicle. They were then taken out and shot again and died on the scene.”

Police also confirmed that the shooting occurred next to a shop owned by a foreign national. The suspects allegedly entered the shop and fired several shots, but no one was injured.

“Information indicates that those unidentified suspects who shot the deceased also got inside the shop and shot inside but no one  got injured due to bullet-proof windows, and nothing was taken from the shop. Investigation continues, no arrest as yet.”