Strandfontein residents were fearful after shootings over the weekend left three people dead.

The first shooting happened in Church Street on Friday 16 October at about 20:00. The second took place in Dinghy Circle on Saturday 17 October.

Church Street shooting

Police spokesperson Lieut Col FC van Wyk said two 19-year-old men were shot and injured in Church Street on Friday night. The teenagers were taken to hospital with gunshot wounds to the head and abdomen.

Police opened two cases of attempted murder, which were later changed to murder and attempted murder after one of the men died in hospital from his injuries. The motive is believed to be gang related.

Dinghy Circle shooting

Two people were killed and two others injured in the second shooting in Dinghy Circle on Saturday.

Police and the neighbourhood watch blocked off the circle while forensic teams examined the scene, said Strandfontein Community Police Forum (CPF) chair Sandy Schuter.

She said the area had been cordoned off for hours because of the long wait for the anti-gang unit.

“There were multiple shootings in Mitchells Plain and Lentegeur, so it took a while,” she said.

Ward councillor Elton Jansen said in a post on his WhatsApp channel that two people had also been taken to hospital.

“I visited the scene and spoke to the Strandfontein Community Police Forum chair as well as the Strandfontein police station commander,” he said.

“Resources are being brought into the area for high visibility and to combat possible retaliation.”

Jansen called on residents not to share videos that could compromise investigations and asked parents not to let their children stand on street corners.

He thanked neighbourhood watch volunteers who managed the crime scene.

Rumour of third shooting dismissed

There were rumours of a third retaliatory shooting in Blou Dakke later on Saturday night, but Schuter confirmed this was false.

“Please, let’s keep calm and avoid spreading unverified voice notes or panic on the groups,” she said.

Community calls for action

The CPF said on its WhatsApp channel it was deeply saddened and outraged by the shooting that claimed two lives, with others taken to hospital with injuries.

“This violence has no place in Strandfontein. We cannot and will not normalise the bloodshed, fear and grief that criminal elements and gang violence try to force upon our neighbourhoods,” the forum said.

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“Lives are being shattered, and families are being torn apart by acts of cowardice that destroy the very fabric of our community.”

The forum urged residents to remain vigilant and support one another, and called on law enforcement agencies to use every resource to track down those responsible.

“Silence protects the perpetrators. If anyone has information regarding this incident, please report it immediately to the authorities, so we can remove these criminals from our streets,” the forum said.

The forum also called for the start of street committees.

Prayer gathering

The CPF and the police’s spiritual crime prevention group, invited faith leaders to an interfaith prayer gathering, on Tuesday 20 October from 19:00 to 20:00 at Blou Dakke, on the corner of Church and Dennegeur street.

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“The purpose is to pray for the affected families, call for peace and protection over the area, and unite spiritual leaders against gang violence,” the WhatsApp post said.

Unconfirmed reports

While crime watch groups were also filled with rumours of shootings in other areas of Mitchells Plain police had not confirmed these by the time of publication.

Anyone who has information about these shootings can call WO Billy Burrows at Strandfontein police on 021 370 1500 or 021 370 1501.