WESTERN CAPE – Three people were killed and two others injured after gunmen opened fire at a house in Franschhoek this morning (Sunday 17 May), while four more people died and a child was wounded in a separate shooting in Kuils River less than 14 hours earlier.

According to a statement by the office of the provincial commissioner in the Western Cape, the Franschhoek shooting took place at around 10:00 in Jakaranda Street in Groendal.

Reports from the scene indicate that two armed men entered the house and fired multiple shots at the occupants.

Three men, aged between 30 and 35, died at the scene, while a woman and another man sustained injuries and were taken to the hospital for treatment.

Crime scene experts spent several hours combing the property for evidence as investigators interviewed witnesses and canvassed the area for information.

Franschhoek police opened cases of murder and attempted murder, with detectives attached to the Provincial Serious Violent Crimes unit later taking over the investigation.

Police said no arrests had been made and that the motive for the attack remains under investigation. A manhunt for the suspects is underway.

The Franschhoek shooting came hours after another deadly attack in Wesbank in Kuils River, on Saturday evening (16 May).

Police responded to reports of gunfire in Strandveld Street at around 20:00, where officers discovered the bodies of three women and one man, aged between 32 and 39, all with gunshot wounds.

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Medical personnel declared the four victims dead at the scene.

A seven-year-old child who was injured during the shooting was taken to a nearby medical facility for treatment.

“Preliminary investigation suggests that the incident may be gang-related,” the statement read.

“The circumstances surrounding the shooting are currently under investigation by the Serious and Violent Crime Unit and no arrests have been made at this stage.”