Hanover Park residents grieving death of four-year-old boy caught in gang violence - CPF

The Hanover Park community policing forum's Kashiefa Mohammed says residents are overcome with grief following the death of a four-year-old boy due to gang violence.

Four-year-old Qadir Boer was struck by a stray bullet on Wednesday afternoon and died in hospital in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Two 17-year-old suspects were arrested shortly after the shooting in Moray Court.

Mohammed said children were being held hostage in their homes this school holiday, as rival gang members continue to target one another.

On Wednesday, one of these gunmen missed their target and killed an innocent four-year-old Qadir Boer.

"Our children are losing their lives. The community of Hanover Park they sleep with the sound of gunshots, they wake up with the sound of gunshots."

Last week, 12-year-old Moegamat Faizel Challis died after he was struck in the head and leg by stray bullets in Tafelsig, Mitchells Plain, while collecting party packs for his younger siblings.

His mother, Ronel Challis, said she knows the men involved in the shooting, having grown up with them in that very community.

"As far as I know, two were taken in and at the moment they're at Pollsmoor."

Hanover Park and Mitchells Plain are among several Cape Town communities that experienced a surge in gang and gun violence in recent weeks.