Minister Marais condemns the killing of 11 people in three shooting incidents overnight

Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Anroux Marais, has strongly condemned the three separate shooting incidents in Langa, Gugulethu and Khayelitsha that claimed the lives of 11 people overnight. The incidents occurred in the space of several hours on Saturday evening and into the early hours of Sunday morning.

In Khayelitsha, three men aged 25, 31 and 35 were shot and killed in the TR Section at Lingelethu West at approximately 22:50 on Saturday evening.

In Langa, four men and one woman were shot and killed at Winnie Mandela Street in Phase 3 at approximately 22:45 on Saturday evening.
In Gugulethu, two men and a woman were shot and killed in the Barcelona informal settlement at approximately 04:10 on Sunday morning. Two other victims sustained injuries in the shooting.
The killing of 11 people in such a brutal manner is deeply disturbing.

“I welcome the deployment of specialised investigative teams to probe these incidents and urge the South African Police Service to use every available investigative resource to ensure that those responsible are tracked down, arrested and successfully prosecuted. The perpetrators of these heinous attacks must face the full might of the law,” said Minister Marais.

Minister Marais reiterated her call for the proper and effective utilisation of police intelligence to prevent violent crimes before they occur, particularly by disrupting the flow of illegal firearms and ammunition into communities.

Minister Marais said, “We must be far more effective in using intelligence to identify where illegal firearms and ammunition are coming from, who is supplying them, where these weapons are being stored and who is distributing them into our communities. Once identified, these networks and locations must be systematically targeted and shut down.”

“These attacks are not possible without access to firearms and ammunition. I again call on SAPS to use available intelligence, lock down identified areas and remove these weapons from our communities,” Minister Marais continued.

Minister Marais also appealed to residents to continue playing their part in the fight against violent crime by reporting suspicious activity and information about illegal firearms and ammunition. “Law enforcement cannot do this alone. I urge residents not to remain silent. Information provided to law enforcement can prevent the next shooting,” Minister Marais stated. 

Residents can report information anonymously through the following channels:
•    SAPS Crime Stop: 08600 10111
•    MySAPS Mobile Application 
•    City of Cape Town Tip-Off Line: 0800 110077

“We must stand together against the scourge of illegal firearms and ammunition. We owe it to every family living in fear of violence to do everything within our power to make our communities safer,” Minister Marais concluded.

Media Enquiries:
Kurt Nefdt
Acting MLO to Minister Anroux Marais
Cell: 084 285 1975
Email: Kurt.Nefdt@westerncape.gov.za