Metro police join WC Anti-Gang Unit to launch manhunt after 5 killed, 7 injured in Mitchells Plain
An ongoing gang war in the area sparked several shootings in various neighbourhoods on Thursday.
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CAPE TOWN - Metro police have joined forces with the Western Cape Anti-Gang Unit to launch a manhunt after five people were killed and seven others injured in Mitchells Plain.
An ongoing gang war in the area sparked several shootings in various neighbourhoods on Thursday.
Police said gunmen fired shots at a tuck shop in Beacon Valley at about 12.30, leaving two people dead and three injured.
In two other incidents in the same neighbourhood, another person was shot dead and four others injured.
Then, in two other shootings, in Tafelsig and Portlands at Town Centre, two people were shot dead.
"The incidents are believed to be gang-related, and Anti-Gang Unit detectives are investigating murder and attempted murder cases.
"Multidisciplinary deployments have since been deployed to the area to prevent further occurrences," said police spokesperson Novela Potelwa.
The City of Cape Town's Safety and Security Directorate has deployed 60 metro police officers to assist the South African Police Service (SAPS) in the area.
CAPE FLATS SAFETY FORUM REACTS
The Cape Flats Safety Forum has expressed concern about the lack of policing in Mitchells Plain.
The forum's chairperson, Abie Isaacs, said various neighbourhoods in Mitchells Plain have been affected as different gangs are merging to face off against each other.
"As the Cape Flats Safety Forum, we are clearly concerned in relation to the escalating gun violence, specifically gun-related gang violence in and around Mitchells Plain for the past 72 hours."
Isaacs said a new approach is needed to tackle the scourge of gang violence in Cape Town's communities.
"Once again, there seems to be no political will to deal with the gang violence on the Cape Flats. There's no clear strategy from the provincial commissioner to deal with the gang violence."