Western Cape violence: Six dead in weekend shooting spree

Western Cape police are investigating six murders and three attempted murders following a series of shootings across the province this weekend.

The violence continues to flare despite the recent deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to assist police in gang hotspots. More than 50 murders have been reported since the military intervention began earlier this month.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) stated that operations will intensify as investigations progress over the coming months.

The weekend’s bloodshed began in Mitchells Plain, where a 17-year-old boy was shot and killed in Morgan Village, Lentegeur, on Friday night.

Simultaneously, police in Franschhoek are probing shootings at three spaza shops in the Langrug informal settlement. Police spokesperson Ndakhe Gwala confirmed that two Ethiopian nationals were killed and another man was injured in the attacks.

"According to reports, at about 22:30, unknown male suspects fired shots at the shops, injuring one male victim while two Ethiopian males were fatally wounded," Gwala said.

In Harare, two foreign nationals, a Malawian and a Somali citizen—were shot dead on Friday. The victims were in the process of delivering bread in Gaya Street when the attack occurred.

Mitchells Plain police are also investigating a separate murder in Portlands. An unknown man was killed during a shooting at the Hazeldene Street taxi rank on Friday night.

Gwala confirmed that while investigations are ongoing, arrests are yet to be made in any of these cases.