Calls grow for gun violence State of Emergency after mass shooting claims eight lives

THE killing of eight people during a shooting linked to extortion in Philippi East has ignited calls for the provincial government to declare gun violence in the Western Cape a state of emergency.   

Three suspects opened fire at a tavern in the Marikana informal settlement, in Philippi East in the early hours of Saturday. Six people died on the scene, one on the way to hospital, and the other after arriving at a medical facility. Two more sustained serious gunshot wounds.  

Of the eight deceased, one was a 43-year-old woman who was the owner of the illegal liquor outlet, said police spokesperson Andre Traut.

The Community Policing Forums (CPFs) and police in the Western Cape have called on the members of the public to come forward with information that can lead to the arrest of the suspects.

Cape Flats Safety Forum (CFSF) chairperson Abie Isaacs said the alarming gun violence in the Western Cape should be enough reason for the provincial government to establish a commission of inquiry to look deeper into the issue, and an integrated intervention in affected areas.

“We place the following demands: The Premier (Alan Winde) to declare a state of emergency, as this mandate falls within his power; we further call for the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to be deployed as a force multiplier, the establishment of a commission to look deeper into gun violence,” Isaacs said.

While Western Cape police commissioner Thembisile Patekile confirmed that they were hot on the heels of the three suspects, Isaacs called on communities to assist the police with information that could help police with their investigations. 

Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC Anroux Marais confirmed that she along with Premier Alan Winde will be meeting with Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia within the next three weeks to discuss urgent policing needs in the province.

“Communities are living in constant fear as criminals run rampant. The SAPS must urgently resource all priority precincts and fill vacancies so that all serious crimes are solved and those responsible are prosecuted,” she said.

“Acts of extreme violence such as this will not be tolerated. All law enforcement agencies and communities must work together to bring perpetrators to justice.” 

Rafique Foflonker, spokesperson of the Western Cape Provincial CPF Board, said in the future they will be looking at conducting workshops with tavern owners and spaza shop owners regarding extortion. 

“In the past, the CPF had addressed the business owners in various areas concerning extortion, and we have had media campaigns around extortion. We will revive those workshops again,” he said.

He encouraged business owners to report early extortion attempts because it becomes easier to prevent them, whereas it is more difficult to intervene and solve the extortion after it has been running for a while.  

“We are calling on the community to come forward with the information that can help the SAPS to track down the killers and bring them to justice.

“The community does not need to provide their names. They just have to provide information about where or when these crimes are committed, or are going to be committed, or if they know of business premises that are currently being extorted. The special team will then do whatever they need to do to sort the situation out,” he stated.

Cape Times