11 killed in three separate shootings across Cape Town

At least 11 people have been shot dead in three separate incidents in and around Cape Town since Sunday night, police said, with no arrests yet and motives not established.

Deadliest attack in Gugulethu

The most lethal incident occurred in NY50, Gugulethu, during the early hours of Monday, where five people were killed and a sixth wounded, Provincial Serious and Violent Crime Unit detectives are investigating.

Police spokesperson Colonel André Traut said officers responded to reports of a shooting at a residence and found victims with multiple gunshot wounds. Four men and a woman, aged between 19 and 23, were declared dead at the scene, and a 20-year-old woman who was wounded was taken to a medical facility for treatment.

Traut said:

“Preliminary investigation indicates that two unidentified armed men forced their way into the house by kicking open the front door. The suspects demanded a firearm before opening fire on the occupants, then fled.”

Acting Western Cape provincial commissioner Major General Luyanda Damoyi condemned the attack and directed detectives to pursue all available leads. Traut said additional operational members had been deployed in the area while the investigation continued.

Mass shooting in Kayamandi, Stellenbosch

Earlier on Sunday evening, four men were shot dead in Kayamandi, Stellenbosch. Detectives from the same provincial unit are investigating four counts of murder and four counts of attempted murder, Traut said.

Stellenbosch police responded to reports of a shooting in Seventh Avenue at about 5:35pm, where they found an unidentified man with fatal gunshot wounds. While officers were at the scene, they heard further gunfire and encountered armed suspects who opened fire on them. The members returned fire, forcing the suspects to flee, Traut said.

Two police members and two members of the public a man and a woman were wounded and taken to a medical facility. Traut said a 9mm firearm was recovered at one of the scenes and seized for forensic analysis, and that crime scene experts worked through the night.

Damoyi described the attack as “brazen and unacceptable,” saying:

“This senseless violence has claimed several lives and left police officials and innocent members of the community injured. We will utilise every available resource to identify and apprehend those responsible. Those who attack police officers and terrorise our communities will face the full might of the law.”

Shooting in Manenberg

The third shooting took place in Pecos Walk, Manenberg, on Sunday evening at about 8:05pm. Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg said Manenberg police had registered two counts of murder and one of attempted murder.

Two men, aged 38 and 54, were fatally wounded and declared dead at the scene, and a 74-year-old woman who was wounded was taken to a medical facility. Twigg said police found the victims with gunshot wounds and that, according to reports, the victims were approached by unknown suspects who opened fire on them before fleeing the scene. He added that the motive forms part of the police investigation.

Investigation ongoing

Police said they had not established a motive for any of the attacks and that no arrests had been made. Detectives from the Provincial Serious and Violent Crime Unit are investigating the incidents.