Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the brutal killing of two men on Memani Street last week.
The gruesome incident is the second in less than a month. Last month, two people were shot and killed while sitting in a vehicle, while a 15-year-old boy reportedly died in hospital after being caught in the crossfire. (“KTC residents are concerned about their safety after several shooting incidents”, City Vision, Thursday 24 August).
In the latest incident, on Thursday 7 September, the victims, aged 37, were reportedly attacked by “a number of people” driving a Toyota Avanza. The incident occurred around 14:50
The motive is unknown.
Provincial police spokesperson Capt F C Van Wyk said Gugulethu officers registered a double murder case for investigation. “The officers attended a complaint at the mentioned address and on their arrival, they found a silver VW Polo TDI standing in the middle of the road. Inside the vehicle, the officers found a male in the driver’s seat, with multiple gunshot wounds to the body. While busy at the scene they were informed of another body lying in at the corner of Zolile Geld and Makateng streets,” said Van Wyk.
Both victims were declared dead on the scene by the paramedics.
According to Van Wyk, circumstances surrounding the incident are subject to a police investigation.
The incident has caused panic in the community.
A visibly shaken community leader told how the neighbourhood had transformed into a danger zone.
Speaking to City Vision on condition of anonymity for fear of being targeted, he said shootings and killing have become a norm. “We don’t know what is going on here. People who witnessed the incident said an Avanza followed the private car, overtook it and quickly stopped in front of it. Four people reportedly got out of the Avanza and opened fire on the car,” he stated.
The driver died inside the car, while another person sitting in the passenger seat died a few metres away after trying to escape the hail of bullets. A third person, who was sitting in the back seat, escaped unharmed, according to the leader. “It seems the attackers wanted the driver because they did not bother to chase other people who were in the car,” he said, adding that there were at least 10 shots.
The entire community is gripped in fear, added the leader, drawing a link between the two incidents.
“They shot the driver more than 10 times,” he explained.
“Soon, KTC is going to be a no-go area. People are killed in the daylight. Even we, as community leaders, are scared. Looking at how these people are killed, it is similar to the previous incident,” concluded the leader.
Anyone with information or who witnessed the incident is requested to call Crime Stop on 08600 10111.