11-Year-Old Girl Killed in Kraaifontein Gang Crossfire, Community Outraged

What should have been an ordinary evening of children playing outside turned into a nightmare in Wallacedene, Kraaifontein, when gunfire erupted, leaving an 11-year-old girl dead and two others wounded.

The shooting happened shortly after 7pm on Tuesday in Mti Street, when an armed man reportedly opened fire in the middle of the street.

According to SAPS spokesperson Captain Frederick van Wyk, three people were hit by stray bullets: the young girl, an eight-year-old child, and a 20-year-old man.

“The 11-year-old victim was declared dead at the scene, while the two survivors were rushed to hospital,” Van Wyk confirmed, adding that the incident is believed to be gang-related.

The shooter fled and has not yet been arrested. Police are urging anyone with information to come forward via Crime Stop (08600 10111) or the MySAPS App.

“Our children are not safe”

The tragedy has sparked anger and heartbreak in the community, with many pointing to the reality that children in Cape Town’s townships grow up surrounded by gunfire.

Siyabulela Monakali, spokesperson for the anti-gender-based violence group Ilitha Labantu, said the killing reflected deep social failures:

“That an 11-year-old child lost her life while playing outside is an indictment of a society that has failed to prioritise the safety of its most vulnerable members.”

Monakali stressed that gang violence cannot be separated from poverty, inequality, and neglect the conditions that continue to make young people vulnerable to gang recruitment while leaving families trapped in fear.

A city haunted by bullets

Cape Town has long been dubbed one of the world’s most violent cities, with townships like Kraaifontein, Khayelitsha, and Manenberg carrying the heaviest toll of gang wars.

Despite decades of promises and short-term policing crackdowns, communities say little has changed. Families live with the sound of gunshots as a daily reality, and parents fear that their children could become the next headline.

For many locals, this killing isn’t just another statistic it is a devastating reminder that kids can’t even play outside without risking their lives.

As police search for the suspect, community leaders and rights organisations are once again calling for a sustainable strategy to dismantle gangs, better policing, and more investment in alternatives for at-risk youth.

Until then, another Cape Town family is left with a funeral to plan, two survivors are recovering from bullet wounds, and a community is left asking: When will our children finally be safe?

{Source: IOL}

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