Cape Flats bloodshed persists despite SANDF deployment

THE army is supposed to be out in full force on the Cape Flats, but that hasn’t stopped the bloodshed. 

On the first day of the SANDF's deployment yesterday, two men were shot and killed inside a Hanover Park shack. 

The two victims were identified as 25-year-old Tougheed, known locally as Mow, and 33-year-old Taswil “Tebba”.

A video circulating on social media shows one of the victims being transported to a medical facility by a private vehicle, but he was declared dead on arrival.

A family member of Tougheed said the men did not live in the shack, but stayed in the area.

The source explained: “We are sad, but we are glad he is in a better place. I don’t know the other guy who was shot, but the two were friends. They did not stay in that makeshift house.”

Police spokesperson, Wesley Twigg, confirmed the incident, saying: “Philippi police registered two counts of murder for investigation following a shooting incident on Wednesday at about 5am where two males aged 25 and 33 were shot and fatally wounded. Police members were called to the crime scene in Turfburg Walk, Hanover Park, where they found the victims inside an informal dwelling with gunshot wounds to their bodies. The 25-year-old victim was declared deceased on the scene by medical personnel, while the other victim was transported to a medical facility in a private vehicle where he was declared deceased on arrival at the hospital.  The motive for the attack is subject to an investigation by the South African Police Service. The suspect/s fled the scene and are yet to be arrested.”

A community activist told the Daily Voice that the shooting is gang related.

Meanwhile, Kashiefa Mohammed, spokesperson for the Hanover Park Community Policing Forum, said: “The army is not yet in Hanover Park. I hope the army will be deployed soon in Hanover Park, so that the community will become a peaceful place and that the people can live in harmony. For many years, people had to duck and dive through bullets, innocent people were shot, our pensioners could not walk to the shop or withdraw their pension because there was constant shooting and gangsters robbing. We put our trust in the army and will see what changes they can bring for my community. Let us unite and stand together and fight this crime.  We are struggling with gangsters shooting day and night. It’s school holidays, but you don’t see children playing outside because gangs are running with open guns.”

Police are appealing to anyone with any information about this shooting incident to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the mobile application MySAPS anonymously