8 killed in Khayelitsha shootings

**Eight people were found shot dead in three locations in Harare in Khayelitsha. Image:Pixabay.com**

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, The South African - In the early hours of Wednesday morning, eight individuals were fatally shot in three separate incidents within the vast township of Khayelitsha, located in Cape Town.

Khayelitsha death scene

In the largest of the crime scenes in Harare, the bodies of five individuals, consisting of four men and one woman, were discovered with gunshot wounds on Ncumu Street.

According to the Daily Maverick, Harare residents have endured the oppressive presence of a notorious group of suspected criminals, causing widespread fear and devastation.

However, on Wednesday morning, it appears that their era of terror has come to an end.

Colonel André Traut, the police spokesperson, stated that initial investigations into the series of murders indicated a potential connection between two preceding shooting incidents and the one on Ncumu Street.

“At around 2.50am, an adult male and his adult girlfriend were shot and killed in Feza Street, Harare and, shortly after that, a 35-year-old male was shot and killed not far from the first scene.

“Three hours later, the murders in Ncumu Street were committed, possibly by the same suspects.”

The homicides occurred shortly after Police Minister Bheki Cele held a crime prevention imbizo in Hanover Park, Cape Town, on Sunday.

During the meeting, efforts were concentrated on tackling the community’s severe and violent crimes and finding ways for residents to collaborate more effectively with law enforcement to enhance police response times.

Khayelitsha residents stricken with fear following Wednesday’s eight murders

Harare residents remain deeply traumatised following three shooting incidents that resulted in the deaths of eight individuals.

According to SABC News, the local councillor Anele Gabhuza has urged the community to collaborate with the police and the community police forum to eradicate crime from the area.

“People now are fearing of this barbaric tendency of this shooting. They were all shot dead. The community now is not safe at all. So we need to come together, to work together with SAPS and the CPF and everyone. We must work together so that we can so that we can condemn these barbaric tendencies in our respective areas.”

Reagen Allen, the Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety, has vehemently denounced the incident and is urging the public to provide any information that could assist in apprehending the perpetrators of the killings.

“The moment communities get wind of any criminal plans, they should inform law enforcement agencies so that it can be prevented. Every single murder is unnecessary. SAPS should also ensure that their intelligence is working optimally and that they follow up on every lead. As the Western Cape government, we will continue with our LEAP deployment in the Khayelitsha area in an effort to boost the SAPS crime-fighting efforts. We need these criminals off our streets.”

In the meantime, Western Cape police are investigating the mass shooting.

According to police spokesperson André Traut, initial findings indicate that the mass shootings are connected. Authorities are still in pursuit of the suspects.