Kraaifontein community under siege

“EVERY day we walk on blood.” 

That is how Kraaifontein Community Policing Forum Chairperson Mawethu Sisila described the crime in the area as police  made a breakthrough following the killing of six people, four women and two men on Monday night. 

A 49-year-old suspect was arrested in the suburb, and the firearm allegedly used in the attacks was recovered from a shop owned by a foreign national.

Three other foreign nationals, including the shop owner, were also arrested for possession of the illegal firearm and ammunition, which has been sent for ballistics testing.

National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola confirmed that the arrest is currently linked to one double murder of two women, while police continue conducting identity parades and following leads to determine connections to the other killings.

“Our members are still on the ground; we cannot rule out the possibility of effecting more arrests in this case,” Masemola said.

Western Cape police spokesperson Wesley Twigg said the murders occurred across three locations in Wallacedene and Eikendal on Monday night.

“In Molefe Street, two females aged 19 and 25 were shot and fatally wounded, and a 24-year-old woman was injured. Minutes later, in Taleman Street, two women in their twenties were shot and fatally wounded. In an unrelated shooting incident at the corner of 9th Avenue and Verster Street, Eikendal, two men aged 20 and 22 were killed,” Twigg said.

“The 19 and 25-year-old victims were declared dead on the scene by medical personnel, while the 24-year-old victim was taken to a medical facility for treatment. Both victims in Taleman Street were declared dead on the scene. The motives for all of these attacks form part of the police investigation,” he added.

Sisila said they were also trying to determine the motive for the shootings in the area, which has turned volatile.

“The police always come after the fact; the community should assist, but they don’t come forward. I think they could be scared because they don’t trust the police, and they are afraid that the police officer they talk to could be linked to the shooters. We need to mend those relationships,” he said.

“The provincial commissioner, Lieutenant-General Thembisile Patekile, was here two weeks back at an imbizo, but community activism is lacking. The imbizo was not well attended. We have decided to call meetings in block areas.

“According to our safety plan, we are going to zoom into hot spot areas and encourage them to report crime confidentially. Our hot spots are in the informal areas, and we are engaging with the City about lighting and roads. We want the police to be safe when they patrol there.”

Sisila also highlighted issues with gangsterism and infrastructure. “Gangsters are fighting. We would like the City to remove some structures so there can be proper roads. It’s difficult for the police to chase anyone through the shacks.

“We held a meeting last night with the subcouncil management, and we will go to the community and hope that we are going to get to the bottom of this. We need a new police station; the one that exists was meant to serve 50,000, and we need two more stations to cover all wards,” he said.

Benson Ngqentsu, provincial secretary of the South African Communist Party, said: “The alarming surge in violent crime and firearm usage as a weapon of choice in Kraaifontein demands immediate attention. Kraaifontein consistently ranks among the top 30 police stations with high murder rates.

“We need tangible solutions, and a visit from Acting Minister Prof Firoz Cachalia can help inform effective interventions. The mere fact that these mass shootings continue unabated despite that the minister and high-ranking police officials are in the province confirms the extent to which criminals are emboldened.”

Masemola also reported another breakthrough following the murder of a man at the Athlone Magistrate's Court.

“A 24-year-old suspect has been arrested. This suspect was found admitted at a local hospital with gunshot wounds he sustained during a shooting with other gang members. The swift arrests must be commended as this illustrates the seriousness and urgency with which police regard incidents of this nature,” he said.

He added that from April 1, 2025, to date, 1,026 illegal firearms have been seized in the Western Cape. In the past seven days alone, 80 illegal firearms were confiscated.

“Police officers across the country will not tolerate any criminal activity and will continue to protect and stabilise communities by stamping out the authority of the state. Our crime intelligence operatives, detectives, and uniformed police continue to heighten operations on the ground to deter all forms of criminality,” Masemola said.

Cape Times