Community unites for peace in Mitchell’s Plain after deadly gun violence

HUNDREDS gathered in solidarity with the residents of Mitchells Plain during a peace and prayer motorcade on Sunday, following a wave of violence where more than 16 people were shot and seven killed.

The initiative was organised by Mitchell’s Plain residents who represent various organisations including National Coloured Congress councillor (NCC) Rochelle Minnaar, Save Mitchell’s Plain’s Shahiem van Nelson as well as the Malachi Foundation. They were supported by various other organisations, religious groups, political parties and community policing forums who work in the area. 

The motorcade began around 2:30pm, through Westridge, Portlands, Beacon Valley, Tafelsig and ended in Lentegeur. In each area, the group stopped and prayed for peace.

Minnar said: “The prayer-carcade was about showing support and solidarity. We didn’t know what the weather would be like, but we wanted to reach as many areas within Mitchell’s Plain as possible. We stopped in various areas where we paused to pray but when we got to Beacon Valley, we heard that two more children had just been shot. That’s the reason we’re doing this, to show support to the families and the community at large. We are hearing your voices. We are acknowledging our youth who are dying and the mothers who are crying.

“This violence doesn’t just affect the household where the child comes from, it affects all of us. There's a need for trauma counselling and we can’t ignore the issues of gangsterism and drug addiction. These are massive problems but like the saying goes, 'you eat an elephant piece by piece.' We have to start somewhere.”

Organisers expressed hope that the motorcade sent a strong message, not only to those fueling gang violence but also to government. 

Minnar said the community was united in grief and frustration, tired of burying their children and demanding urgent action to end the bloodshed.

Police confirmed around 16 people had been shot in the space of two days.

Between July 3 and 4, multiple shooting incidents in Mitchells Plain resulted in at least six deaths and several injuries. In Beacon Valley, two separate shootings at tuck shops left three dead and six injured. Shootings in Tafelsig and Town Centre each claimed two lives. On the evening of July 4, a shooting in Portlands killed two young men and injured another, while a fourth person escaped unharmed. Police are actively investigating these incidents as part of their ongoing efforts to curb the violence.

Police spokesperson, FC Van Wyk said: “Since 2pm on 2025-07-03 to 2am on 2025-07-04, the members were divided into teams and areas such as Beacon Valley, Tafelsig and Portlands were targeted and several houses were searched. A total of 43 identified gang houses were searched.”

In total, five firearms and various ammunition were seized, and seven suspects aged 17 to 46 were arrested for possession of unlicensed and prohibited firearms and ammunition. Additionally, fourteen suspects aged 20 to 39 were arrested on charges of murder and attempted murder, while a 30-year-old was arrested for illegal possession of ammunition.

Police said the suspects are expected to appear at the Mitchell's Plain Magistrate’s Court today.

Criminologist, Dr Simon Howell said there are “no easy answers” in terms of how to stop the violence. 

“The way to do this right now would be to have short, medium and long term interventions. Short term would be immediate reactionary type of policing operations and the type of stabilisation undertakings that would need to occur. Medium term would be engaging with the people within the gangs and around the gangs and trying to find alternative pathways for them. And the long term would be stopping kids getting into gangs in the first place,” Howell said.

Cape Times