By Buziwe Nocuze
- Three people were killed while drinking at a house in Better Life. A fourth person was badly hurt.
- Two shopkeepers were shot dead in Khayelitsha, with residents blaming gangsters asking for money.
Nine people were shot in three separate attacks across Cape Town townships. Four were killed and five others were injured.
In the first attack, four friends were drinking inside a house in Better Life, Philippi, when gunmen stormed in and started shooting. Three of them, aged 28 to 39, died on the spot. The fourth was rushed to hospital.
A local resident said these shootings are now a normal part of life in their area.
“When we hear gunshots, we hide under the bed or table. I don’t know why those people were killed,” she said.
Later, in the nearby Siyahlala informal settlement, five more people were shot. A 47-year-old man died at the scene. Four others, aged 30 to 40, were injured.
Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg said the gunmen were looking for someone when they opened fire.
Residents are tired of the violence and say the police are not doing enough.
“These criminals don’t fear the police. We need soldiers if we want things to change in Philippi,” said another resident.
In a third shooting, an e-hailing driver and two passengers were gunned down on a busy road in Mitchell’s Plain. They were between 36 and 38 years old. The shooters were in two cars.
In Khayelitsha, two shopkeepers were shot and killed in front of their store. A woman walking by said she ran for cover when she heard the shots.
“I only came out when I saw the police. People were saying the shooters were gangsters who wanted money from the shop,” she said.
Both victims were between 30 and 40 years old. Police said they were shot by unknown suspects who ran away.
Pictured above: Two foreign nationals were shot dead in Khayelitsha township, Cape Town.
Image source: A resident
