In spite of heightened security measures at polling stations across various Cape Flats districts, seven individuals have fallen victim to fatal assaults and shootings within a mere 72-hour span, as confirmed by Western Cape police who are now investigating seven homicide cases.
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Sergeant Wesley Twigg, the spokesperson, disclosed that a 25-year-old man was fatally shot on Thursday, with another individual sustaining serious injuries in London Road, Kleinvlei.
Kleinvlei police swiftly responded to a shooting incident at a fuel station where they discovered one fatality with gunshot wounds.
‘The 25-year-old victim was pronounced deceased at the scene, while the injured party was promptly transported to a medical facility for urgent treatment,’ Twigg stated, highlighting the assailants’ escape and the unknown motive behind the attack, prompting a thorough investigation into both murder and attempted murder cases.
On the day of the elections, six lifeless bodies bearing bullet wounds were discovered strewn across Browns Farm, Delft, and Manenberg. Browns Farm saw two fatalities, including a 24-year-old man found with multiple gunshot wounds in Sikhwenene Street, while another victim, a 23-year-old, succumbed to a gunshot wound in Dyushu Street.
Twigg recounted, ‘Responding officers found the victim lying within a yard and declared him deceased on-site,’ noting the absence of arrests and ongoing investigations. In Browns Farm’s Ingulube Road, a 21-year-old man fell victim to gun violence, prompting another investigation into the motive behind the attack.
In Manenberg’s Renoster Grande Road, a 35-year-old man was discovered lifeless after sustaining gunshot wounds, with Twigg citing gang-related motives behind the assault. Additionally, a 19-year-old was fatally shot in Thames Walk on the same day.
Meanwhile, authorities in Delft are on the hunt for gunmen responsible for the death of a 35-year-old man in Peterselie Road, Delft South, with Twigg emphasising the need for determining the motive behind the attack and the subsequent apprehension of suspects.
While acknowledging the potential gang-related nature of the killings, Western Cape police remain vigilant in their investigations.
Justin Kumlehn, spokesperson for the Provincial Community Policing Forum board, expressed vehement condemnation over the surge in violent crimes, particularly during such a critical election period, urging community unity and solidarity in combatting crime.
‘Only through unity can we eradicate crime from our communities,’ Kumlehn emphasised, urging law enforcement to vigorously pursue justice and ensure that perpetrators face the full extent of the law.
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Picture: Felix Dlangamandla / Gallo Images
