Police are investigating murders in Delft and Westridge. FILE
Activists have warned that the recent elimination of gang leaders in Cape Town has led to a dangerous power vacuum, resulting in increased violence.
This follows murders in Delft and Westridge reported in less than 24 hours.
On Tuesday morning at about 7.30am in Gushindoda informal settlement, three people were shot and then set alight.
Police spokesperson Andrè Traut said: “Detectives attached to the Provincial Serious and Violent Crimes unit are probing the circumstances that led to the death of three people, following the discovery of the crime scene on Tuesday morning in Delft South.
“The victims were shot and set alight in what we believe is an act of vigilantism, after shots were heard during the early hours of this morning. Two of the bodies are male and the third one is believed to be a female, as identification is yet to be made.
“What led to the multiple murder is yet to be determined. The endeavours of SAPS detectives attached to the Serious and Violent Crimes unit to bring to book those responsible for violent crimes in the province resulted in the arrest of a male suspect last night. He is being detained on three charges of murder.”
The suspect is expected to appear in the Blue Downs Magistrate’s Court.
Hours later, in Westridge, Mitchells Plain, three people were attacked.
One died, one was wounded, and another escaped unscathed.
Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk said Mitchells Plain police are investigating a murder and attempted murder following a shooting incident on Tuesday at about 10pm in front of a premises in Bellingham Street.
“According to reports, SAPS members on duty attended a shooting incident at the mentioned address. On their arrival, they found an unidentified male lying on the ground deceased.
“It is said that the deceased was standing and talking with another male when two unknown males, armed, approached them and randomly started shooting at them, hitting the victim and fatally wounding him.
“The other male ran away and is nowhere to be found. We urge this individual to please come forward as he can assist with the investigation in this matter.”
Saps said the motive is believed to be gang-related.
Activists, Fight Against Crime SA (FACSA), said: “This violence is out of control with the recent bloodbath due to escalation of the gang-related deaths. The elimination of gang leaders has left a power vacuum, and now these criminals are more brazen than ever - burning bodies and fighting for territory like warlords.
“Communities are living in fear while the government does nothing. Gangsterism and gang wars must be treated as terrorism. FACSA is calling for military intervention and a fully integrated government response specifically tasked with gangsterism.”
FACSA said they have been working directly with SAPS at senior levels, including Brigadier Muller of Mitchells Plain SAPS, but SAPS alone cannot fight this war.
“We call on the government to reinforce our SAPS with the necessary investigation capacity, intelligence, and manpower.
“Failing this, FACSA calls for a shutdown on the Cape Flats until a concrete plan is put forward by the government to deal with the gang violence or terrorism as FACSA has declared it.”
Anyone with information on the incident is requested to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the MySAPS app.
Cape Times
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