A shooting incident in Athlone on Tuesday afternoon resulted in one fatality, spotlighting the rising gang violence in Cape Town.
Athlone shooting: Here’s everything we know
Local authorities quickly arrived at the scene to provide assistance and initiate an investigation.
According to sources, the shooting took place near the volatile areas of the Cape Flats, which has recently seen a surge in violent incidents.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) reported that the victim was found with gunshot wounds and succumbed to the injuries.
The identity of the victim has not been disclosed, and the circumstances leading to the shooting remain unclear.
Gang violence on the rise in Cape Town
The Athlone shooting is part of a troubling trend of escalating gang violence in Cape Town.
Recently, a gang leader was arrested in Lavenderhill following a tip-off about drug dealing.
Law enforcement officers found cash and Mandrax tablets in the suspect’s possession. Further inquiries revealed that he was the leader of the Fast Guns gang and was out on parole.
City of Cape Town MEC for Community Safety, JP Smith, described Lavenderhill and Ottery as volatile war zones, with gunfire frequently erupting and multiple people being shot.
Four individuals had already been reported shot in recent incidents, prompting the deployment of maximum resources to the affected areas.
Smith expressed frustration with the criminal justice system, highlighting the ease with which gang members return to the streets after being arrested.
“Our criminal justice system does not work. It becomes extremely frustrating for our officers to see those arrested, simply back on the streets, sometimes within just days, to continue adding to the gang violence situation,” he said.