By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Police are searching for the gunmen who shot and killed five people at the Endlovini informal settlement in Khayelitsha on Monday morning.
A woman and four men were killed at around 4am,their identities are unknown but they are believed to be 25 to 35 years old.
Police initiated a 72-hour activation plan – a move involving various disciplines of the SA Police Service who join hands to track down perpetrators of crime.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa said: “Reports at the disposal of police indicate that unknown gunmen approached shacks located at the Monwabisi Park informal settlement in Endlovini, Khayelitsha, in the early hours of this morning (Monday) and fired shots.”
Acting Community Safety MEC Anroux Marais condemned the killings, “I was deeply saddened to hear of the shooting and killing of five individuals in Khayelitsha this morning. I condemn this act in the strongest terms. Violence and violent crime have no place in our society. I further welcome the activation of a 72-hour plan, put in place by SAPS, to assist in searching for the unidentified gunmen. I am informed that SAPS crime experts are continuing to investigate the scene of the crime,” she said.
Marais added: “I have further been informed that organised crime detectives are investigating the murders. My thoughts are with the families and loved ones of the deceased during this very difficult time and call on SAPS to leave no stone unturned in their investigation to ensure that those who are guilty are brought to book.”
Khayelitsha residents, including their ward councillor Lonwabo Mqina, said they were not shocked following the discovery of five bodies with gunshot wounds in the area.
“It is not shocking that there dead bodies,” said councillor Mqina. “What is shocking is the number of bodies found in one place. This area is a dumping site for dead bodies. It’s like a mortuary, where every day there is a dead body dumped.”
Mqina explained that the alleged shooters were going from shack to shack searching for their victims. “Residents say they entered one shack and told the people inside that they must be on the lookout for seven bodies. Only five have been found so far.”
It has not been said what might have led to the murders of the victims.
The shooting happens after yet another deadly week in Cape Town. Eight people were killed in Manenberg last week, and Delft also had a number of murders.