A total of 17 people have been killed in separate mass killings around Khayelitsha in less than two months, raising fears among residents.
As Mothers Day celebrations on Sunday 8 May drew to a close, another six people were shot and killed in the area.
This time at Taiwan informal settlement, Site C.
The killing took place at the corner of Maphongwana and Idada avenue.
Five people died on the scene while the sixth person was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital. More than 60 shots were reportedly fired during the attack which has left residents reeling in fear.
When the City Vision team visited the area on Monday morning, 9 May, scores of women clad in their gowns lined up the street reminiscing about the shooting.
A group of men cleaned the streets of any blood stains.
The shooting follows similar incidents at New Monwabisi Park and at Enkanini informal settlement.
In the first incident, at least five people were shot and killed execution style at Monwabisi Park on Sunday 13 March (“K’litsha bloodbath” City Vision, 17 March).
During a second incident at Lindela Street, at Enkanini on Sunday 20 March six people were shot and killed (“Another sad and shocking killing in Khayelitsha, City Vision 24 March).
For the New Monwabisi shooting, Madoda Zwayi was arrested and still is being held in custody while bail hearings are underway. He faces five counts of murder.
While for the Enkanini mass killing, a 35 year-old-man, Thando Shuba, was also arrested. He was released on R800 bail on Tuesday 26 April. The case is set to resume on Wednesday 6 July.
Following Sunday’s killing the South African Police Services’ (Saps) organised crime detectives have opened a murder docket.
A resident in the area, told City Vision they were attending to a stabbing incident when a number of gunshots rang out.
“We were busy trying to organise an ambulance for someone who was stabbed, and everything just change in a minute. As the thundering shots rang out, we ran in different directions for our dear lives,” said the woman, who cleans the street in the area.
The 34-year-old woman said the horrific incident has left them “scared” for their lives as they don’t know what may have been the cause of the shooting.
Khayelitsha Community Policing Forum (CPF) Secretary Phindile George said they were shocked and saddened by the “mowing down” of people in such a manner on Mother’s Day which meant some mothers slept weeping. “We call for a stop to these senseless type of killings in the streets of Khayelitsha. Anyone with information must approach the authorities,” said George.
Brig Novela Potelwa, Western Cape police spokesperson, said reports from the scene indicate police were called out to the corner of Maphongwana and Idada streets in Site C after 20:00 on Sunday evening where they found the bodies of the five victims who had been shot.
“A sixth person who had been rushed to hospital was certified dead on arrival. Organised crime detectives are hard at work busy with an investigation which was initiated immediately,” she said.
Khayelitsha Station Commander Brig Mnonopheli Magobiyane told City Vision that some of the six deceased had pending cases.
“Two of the deceased had serious cases of attempted murder and murder. One is not yet identified. Others have cases of matters such as drugs. So, at this stage they were outside, but we cannot confirm if they were on bail or not. We are at this stage trying to establish whether their cases were finalised or not,” he said.
See page 6.