Three including 9-month-old infant killed, two wounded ahead of army deployment
Three suspects have been killed and two wounded in a shooting in Athlone.
Image: File
POLICE have mobilised “all available resources” including deploying detectives attached to the Serious and Violent Crimes Unit to trace and apprehend the three suspects behind the killing of three people including a 9-month-old baby in Athlone.
Two more people were wounded in the shooting at about 10pm at Sunbird Court in Athlone.
“Upon arrival, officers found the bodies of two women aged 25 and 36, as well as a nine-month-old baby, who had sustained fatal gunshot wounds. Two adult males were also shot and injured during the incident and were transported to a medical facility for treatment,” said police spokesperson Andre Traut.
While the motive of the attack remains under investigation, Traut said preliminary information indicates that three unknown suspects fled the scene.
“Detectives attached to the Serious and Violent Crimes Unit are leading the investigation. All available resources have been mobilised to trace and apprehend those responsible for this heinous crime. SAPS unequivocally condemns violent crimes and we assure the residents of Athlone and the broader community that every effort will be made to bring the perpetrators to book and to restore safety and stability in the area,” he said.
The shooting came on the same day acting police minister Firoz Cachalia announced that the deployment of the South African National Defence Force to the Cape Flats was to take place in 10 days.
GOOD Party councillor Jonathan Cupido extended condolences to the family of the little child identified as Amarah and to all those affected by this senseless act of violence.
“The deployment of the SANDF has now been announced. Residents demanded action, and that demand is understandable. As GOOD we want to be clear and state that soldiers can only stabilise an area temporarily; however, they cannot fix a broken system. The quick reaction after tragedy does not erase the failure that allowed it to happen.
“We are collecting bodies from our streets daily. Gunfire has become normalised. Communities have been labelled “hotspots” for years while the underlying conditions remain unchanged. Enforcement alone will never fix crime. If the government is serious about preventing the next little child's death, then the response must be structural and not symbolic,” said Cupido.
Anyone with information about the shooting can anonymously contact Crime Stop on 0860010111 or use the MySAPS mobile app.