A boy, 9, a woman, and a man were gunned down when four men opened fire on a Rocklands home, while two men, 51 and 36, were wounded and rushed to a nearby hospital.
The Western Cape police have launched an intensive manhunt following the brutal attack in Viscount Street in Rocklands on Tuesday evening, December 2.
Preliminary reports indicate that the unidentified gunmen fired at the premises before entering the house and shooting the victims. The Anti-Gang Unit is investigating this case, said Mitchell’s Plain police Brigadier Brian Muller.
The provincial commissioner of the Western Cape, Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile, strongly condemned the attack and reaffirmed their commitment to protecting communities from gang-related violence.
“This cowardly and senseless act will not go unanswered. Gangsterism has no place in our society. We will not allow criminals to hold our communities hostage through fear and violence. The SAPS will not relent, we will tighten the net around these criminal elements and ensure that every individual involved in violent gang activity is brought before the law,” said Lieutenant General Patekile.
Ward 79 councillor Danny Christians said the killings deeply shook the community.
“We are trying to get guns away from gangsters, but it doesn’t seem to be happening. This is shocking. The boy and the woman were family. The boy, 9, tried to hide in a cupboard—it is inhumane. We are using all our efforts to stop these killings,” he said.
Valerie Moses, crime prevention controller for Rocklands Neighbourhood Watch, said she was on scene when the shots were fired and called the neighbourhood watch.
“When we arrived, the little boy was hiding in a cupboard in the wendy house. The perpetrators fled in a car. They shot at the property and then at the wendy house where the victims were killed and wounded. This house has been targeted many times. We want the shooters found,” she said.
Abie Isaacs, chairperson of the Cape Flats Safety Forum, condemned the murders in the strongest terms.
“As the Cape Flats Safety Forum, we strongly condemn the brutal killing of these three people, particularly the defenseless child and the young woman," he said.
The house has reportedly been targeted for "gun-related murders on numerous occasions. It's allegedly City-owned property, raising serious concerns about safety and oversight. Immediate verification is needed, and the property should be closed to prevent further tragedy. This situation is completely unacceptable,” he said.
Ward 81 councillor, Ashley Potts, also condemned the attacks, urging swift police action, community reporting, and increased resources to protect Mitchell’s Plain.
To the gangsters, Lieutenant General Patekile said: “Your days of terror are numbered. We are coming, and you will face the full might of the law.”
Police are calling on the community to assist with information that may advance the investigation. Tips can be shared anonymously via #CrimeStop on 08600 10111 or through the #MySAPSApp.