Tafelsig High School held a memorial service in memory of Grade 9 pupil Whitney Dennis who died in last week’s shooting in Bainskloof Street, Tafelsig.
It has been a week since the start of a spate of senseless shootings, which left six young people dead and four others recovering from gunshot wounds, and residents of Mitchell’s Plain are still looking for answers.
On Wednesday August 21, 24-year-old Junaid Hill was gunned down along with 15-year-old Whitney Dennis during an incident in Bainskloof Street, Tafelsig, which also left a 23- and 16-year-old wounded.
Junaid and Whitney are the first two of four young people who died in a hail of bullets between Wednesday and Friday last week.
According to Sergeant Wesley Twigg, SAPS media liaison officer, Mitchell’s Plain police officers found Junaid and Whitney with gunshot wounds to their bodies when they arrived in Bainskloof Street. The two died on the scene, and the other victims were taken to hospital for medical treatment.
“According to reports, unknown suspects approached the victims on foot and started shooting at them before fleeing the scene,” Sergeant Twigg said.
Speaking to the Plainsman last Friday, Junaid’s parents Asheeq and Ruweida Hill could not believe the events of the past few days.
Ms Hill said her son was a loveable young man who was loved by many neighbours.
“When he left our house shortly before the incident, I never imagined it would be the last time that he would be home. He loved to play his music, and now our house is just quiet,” said Ms Hill.
Whitney’s parents were too distraught to speak to the Plainsman on Friday.
William Swartz, acting principal of Tafelsig High School, extended his condolences to her family and said the school community is mourning the Grade 9 pupil’s death.
“Whitney died in a hail of bullets in a similar way that one of our Grade 10 learners, Hayden Ludick died during the June holidays. Gang violence is indeed taking a devastating toll on our young learners leaving their dreams unfulfilled and silencing their voices forever.
“Speaking to the educators that were teaching Whitney confirms that she was a clever girl and had a promising future ahead.
“We Tafelsig High School condemn the senseless killing in the area in the strongest terms and demand that those responsible must face the full might of the law,” said Mr Swartz.
On Friday August 23, about 72 hours after the Tafelsig incident, Mitchell’s Plain police officers responded to another fatal shooting involving young people, this time at a park in Bosduif Street, Rocklands.
“Preliminary information suggest that unknown gunmen opened fire on another group of young people in the park. Two boys aged 15 and 17 were fatally shot and died on the scene while three other males and a female, all between the ages of 15 and 20, were transported to medical facilities with bullet wounds.
“The motive is believed to be gang-related,” said Lieutenant-Colonel Malcolm Pojie, commander of the police’s provincial media centre.
A third victim in the Rocklands shooting, aged 15, died in hospital on Monday.
Ward 81 councillor Ashley Potts said: “We are indeed faced with a reality that I for one have never thought possible for the area. Still I need to accept that Rocklands, like many other areas across the Cape Flats, is not immune to the devastation we’ve just encountered.
“Crime is rampant and we have all had enough of this senselessness. There has never been a time more as such that we need to speak out and step forward to reclaim our streets. One life lost is a life too much.”
On Saturday August 24, a 17-year-old boy was gunned down just before midnight in Beacon Valley. According to Lieutenant-Colonel Pojie, police officers arrived on the scene and found the victim laying in the street with multiple gunshot wounds. He died at the scene.
No arrests have been made in any of the shootings.
Benji Williams, deputy chairperson of the Mitchell’s Plain Community Policing Forum, said the communities of Mitchell’s Plain are reeling in the wake of the recent shootings.
“Our community is in chaos. There are so many questions around these deaths. I pray that God brings change in the hearts of people because we have never seen so many children lose their lives within such a short period,” she said.
Mitchell’s Plain station commander Brigadier Mark Hartzenberg said the station implemented a 72-hour activation plan and deployed additional manpower to stabilise the area.
“I had imbizos in Portland and Rocklands on Saturday. The purpose was to create awareness, update the community on the status of the investigation and to request their cooperation. Members of Mitchell’s Plain CPF, Community Blue members as well as neighbourhood watches members were present at these imbizos,” he said.
Brigadier Hartzenberg added that the investigations are ongoing at this stage and no connections can be made between the three incidents.
“Mitchell’s Plain SAPS is also working closely with the police’s Anti-Gang Unit that is currently deployed in the station area,” he added.