Cape Town communities shaken by gunfire and rising murder toll

Cape Town has been rocked by a wave of deadly shootings including two mass attacks  as violence swept through multiple communities between Thursday and Sunday, leaving at least ten people dead and several others wounded.

Police confirmed incidents in Delft, Kayamandi, Kalkfontein, Goodwood and Garden Village, while additional unconfirmed shootings were reported on Saturday across Hanover Park, Eerste River and Delft.

The violence started on Thursday night at about 7:30pm when Delft police discovered a burnt body  in Symphony Way. The victim, believed to be in his twenties, was declared dead on the scene. No arrests have been made.

According to the Cape Argus' sister publication, the Daily Voice, tragedy struck at Kayamandi Primary School in Stellenbosch on Friday just after 1:10pm. An armed man entered the school grounds after learners had been dismissed. He walked up to the deputy principal, who was seated under a tree, and shot him at close range before fleeing. The 54-year-old educator died on the scene, sending shockwaves through the school community.

Western Cape Education Department spokesperson Bronagh Hammond condemned the killing and confirmed that trauma support teams had been deployed. “The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) is deeply shocked and saddened by the fatal shooting of a deputy principal in what appears to have been a targeted attack on Friday afternoon,” she said. “According to initial reports, an armed individual entered the school premises after learners had been dismissed for the day and approached the victim, who was seated under a tree.”

Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed the details. He said: “Stellenbosch police registered a murder case for investigation following a shooting incident on Friday afternoon. The motive for the attack forms part of the police investigation and no arrests have been made yet.”

There were also reports of three separate incidents on Saturday after a woman was shot and wounded in Rywood Walk, Hanover Park. A  person was shot and killed in Beaulieu Road, Eerste River on Saturday night while a woman was fatally wounded later that night in Gilbert Street, Eindhoven, Delft.

The violence escalated sharply on Sunday. At about 3:50pm, Kuils River police responded to Sikelela Street in Kalkfontein, where a 17-year-old boy was found with a gunshot wound to his chest. He died on the scene. A 27-year-old man was arrested and is expected to appear in the Kuils River Magistrate’s Court.

Less than an hour later, Goodwood was hit by a suspected gang-related mass shooting. Four men travelling in a vehicle came under fire in Van Riebeek Street. The driver lost control and crashed into a tree as bullets tore through the car. Goodwood Community Policing Forum chairperson Abdullah Sydney told the Cape Argus' sister publication, the Daily Voice: “I can confirm that the driver drove into a tree and lost control and they were shot. All we know for now is that it is gang related and we do not know if it is a retaliation or a hit.”

Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed: “Upon arrival on the scene they found four males who sustained gunshot wounds. A 20-year-old male was declared deceased on the scene… The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation and no arrests have been made yet.” He said Anti-Gang Unit detectives are investigating a murder and four counts of attempted murder.

Hours later, at about 7:55pm, another mass shooting erupted in Discovery Avenue, Garden Village. Two men were killed, while a woman and another man were wounded and taken to hospital. No arrests have been made.

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Cape Argus