CAPE TOWN – Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety Anroux Marais has strongly condemned a suspected gang-related mass shooting in Steenberg, Cape Town on Saturday evening, saying no community should have to live in constant fear.
Five people were killed and three others were wounded in the attack. The province’s Anti-Gang Unit detectives are investigating five counts of murder and three of attempted murder. No arrests have yet been made.
“No community should have to endure such senseless bloodshed or live in constant fear for their safety. We cannot allow criminals to terrorise our communities. The time for decisive, sustained action against gangs is now,” Marais said.
Call to disrupt weapons supply
Marais called on the South African Police Service to intensify intelligence-driven operations against known gang groupings, targeting their leadership and dismantling the networks supplying them with illegal firearms and ammunition.
“The police must disrupt their access to firearms and ammunition, which enable them to carry out these deadly attacks. Cutting off their weapons supply is essential to preventing further bloodshed,” she said.
Detectives urged to pursue every lead
The minister thanked the police for deploying additional resources to stabilise the situation in the area, and urged Anti-gang Unit detectives to pursue every lead to ensure those responsible were arrested and successfully prosecuted.
“I thank the police for its additional deployment and urge investigators to work tirelessly to track down the perpetrators and build strong cases against them,” she said.
She also called on the National Prosecuting Authority to pursue the cases rigorously and, on the courts, to impose sentences reflecting the severity of the crimes.
“Those convicted of such heinous acts must face the full consequences of the law. These thugs should remain behind bars for life rather than return to our communities and inflict further harm,” she said.
Public urged to come forward
Marais appealed to anyone with information about the shooting or the suspects to assist the police investigation.
The victims in Saturday evening’s deadly arrack in Blode Street, Steenberg — three men and a woman — are aged between 21 and 33 years.
