Law enforcement agencies have increased their presence in Valhalla Park on the Cape Flats after an alleged member of the 28s gang was gunned down over the weekend.
Noor Stanfield Stephanus, believed to be connected to the notorious Stanfield family, was fatally shot in Angela Street on Saturday afternoon, 4 November.
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Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed the shooting, adding that a manhunt has been launched to apprehend those responsible.
‘Bishop Lavis police responded to a complaint of a shooting and, upon arrival at the scene, they found victims with gunshot wounds to their bodies,’ said Twigg.
The other victim, a 39-year-old man, sustained serious injuries and was taken to a nearby medical facility for treatment.
Twigg said the motive and circumstances surrounding the shooting incident remain the subject of an ongoing police investigation.
According to News24, Stephanus is believed to be connected to the notorious Ralph Stanfield, a key figure in this alleged criminal network, which is known for their involvement in various criminal activities on the Cape Flats.
The suspected gang boss and his wife, Nicole, appeared in the Cape Town Magistrates’ Court in early October on charges of theft of a motor vehicle.
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Concerned about their safety, the incident caused tension to rise within the community as potential gang retaliations hung in the air.
Expressing his concern to News24, local councillor Angus McKenzie said that tensions have been on the rise since Stanfield’s incarceration.
‘His arrest has left some sort of gap from a gang turf-leading perspective in that specific area. It’s most certainly going to be a huge problem as this escalates,’ said McKenzie.
‘We have been consistently engaging with police and law enforcement, who are aware of the situation and have increased their visibility,’ he added.
With matric exams currently underway, McKenzie expressed particular concern about the safety of matriculants and their families travelling through these gang-affected areas, reported The Citizen.
Commenting on the situation, the City of Cape Town’s MMC for safety and security, JP Smith, confirmed that law enforcement agencies had already increased their deployments in the area in an effort to mitigate the likelihood of incidents relating to gang retaliation.
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Picture: JP Smith / Facebook