Eight people, most of them youth, were killed on the Cape Flats in shooting incidents over the last two days.

Seven people were killed and five others injured in two mass shootings in Tafelsig, Mitchells Plain, and in Philippi East on the evening of Wednesday 8 July, while another man was killed in traffic in Westgate, Mitchells Plain, on Thursday morning, while on his way to work.

Tafelsig shooting

The first incident took place at about 20:10 at the corner of Laura Street and Eighth Avenue in Lost City, Tafelsig, Mitchells Plain. Police spokesperson Colonel Andre Traut said, five men were standing outside a tuck shop when armed men approached and opened fire. Three of the men, aged 18, 19, and 51, were declared dead at the scene. Two others, aged 17 and 22, were taken to hospital.

Philippi East shooting

About 20 minutes later, at 20:30, police responded to a shooting at a house in Marcus Garvey, Philippi East, Traut said. Seven people were shot. Four victims, aged between 17 and 20, died from their injuries. Three others were admitted to hospital.

ALSO READ: Philippi East Shooting: Four dead, three injured in Marcus Garvey attack

Third shooting in Mitchells Plain

The following morning, Thursday, 9 July, at about 07:00, a 45-year-old man was fatally shot at the corner of Weltevreden and Morgenster in the Westgate area of Mitchells Plain, police spokesperson Capt FC van Wyk said.

He was alone in his vehicle, a Hyundai mini truck, and was on his way to work when he sustained multiple gunshot wounds. A murder case has been registered, Van Wyk said.

Investigations under way

The motive for each shooting is unknown and forms part of the ongoing investigations.

Traut said police have increased their presence in the affected areas and are conducting crime prevention operations.

Community response

The Mitchells Plain Safety and Development Forum (MPSDF) condemned the shootings and extended condolences to the families of those who died. The forum called on members of the public not to speculate and to allow investigators to establish the facts.

The MPSDF chairperson said: “Every life lost to violence is one too many. Our thoughts are with the grieving families and every resident forced to relive the trauma of violent crime. While this incident is deeply distressing, it strengthens our resolve to accelerate evidence-based interventions that tackle both immediate security threats and the root causes of violence. The rollout of Safe Zones, specifically including Tafelsig East, reflects our commitment to building resilient communities through sustained action. There are no quick fixes, but we share a collective responsibility to ensure violence does not define our future.”

Tafelsig East has already been identified as a priority area under the forum’s Safe Zones Initiative, which aims to secure neighbourhoods through targeted prevention, protection, and community mobilisation. The MPSDF said it was cooperating with authorities and would provide updates as more information became available.

Call for information

Anyone with information about any of these incidents is urged to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or submit a tip anonymously via the MySAPS mobile application. All information will be treated in confidence.

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