Seven people were shot dead and another wounded in a gang-related shooting in Bishop Lavis on the Cape Flats in the Western Cape, police confirmed Friday.
The incident occurred at approximately 8:40 pm last night when an armed suspect entered an informal dwelling on Kogelberg Street and opened fire, killing six people on the spot and injuring two, according to Western Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa. One of the victims succumbed to the injuries this morning.
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Seven Dead In Cape Flats Gang-Related Shooting
Yesterday, Brigadier Potelwa confirmed:
“Western Cape police have reinforced deployments in the Bishop Lavis area following an incident where four men and two women were shot and killed on Thursday evening. Two other persons were wounded during the shooting incident,” Potelwa stated.
“Police reports from the scene indicate that at approximately 8.40 pm an armed suspect entered an informal dwelling in Kogelberg Street and fired several shots at the occupants. Six people were fatally wounded while two others were wounded. The injured pair were transported to a medical facility for treatment.”
The ages of the deceased range between 24 and 55, Potelwa added, confirming that six murder dockets and two attempted murder cases have been opened, with the Anti-Gang Unit (AGU) leading the investigation. However, no arrests have been made yet.
This shooting comes in the wake of another attack on Wednesday, when five people were killed and five more injured while returning home to Atlantis from Silverstream Beach. The back-to-back incidents prompted Western Cape Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile to order the AGU to use all available resources to identify the perpetrators.
The Bloody Scourge
Sub-council Chairperson Angus McKenzie condemned the surge in violence, describing it as an “ever-increasing gang war” affecting the Bishop Lavis and Valhalla Park areas daily.
“I want to thank SAPS management for immediately stepping in by increasing police availability and resources to address the gang problems in the areas,” he said.
“Law-abiding citizens should never need to live in such fear. These ongoing shootings also place huge pressure on basic service to be delivered to the area.”
McKenzie called on the public to provide any information to assist law enforcement.
“The gang war must end, and it must end now, and all those individuals involved in fighting for territory must be caught and placed behind bars. We are appealing to members of the public to work with us and provide us with the necessary information to ensure we end this madness now.”