A peaceful Saturday night in Makhaya, Khayelitsha, was shattered by gunfire, leaving four men dead and two injured in a shocking mass shooting on Albertina Sisulu Drive.
Khayelitsha mass shooting: Four killed, two injured in Makhaya
The victims, aged between 30 and 40, were found sprawled meters apart, turning the quiet neighbourhood into a crime scene.
Eyewitness accounts describe the chaos: “We thought we heard fireworks,” said a resident, who later discovered the grim reality.
Among the victims were a local soccer star and a married man, father to young children.
The residents of Makhaya, typically accustomed to tranquillity, are reeling from the violence that has pierced their community’s heart.
Colonel Andre Traut, spokesperson for the police, confirmed the Serious and Violent Crimes (SVC) unit is investigating the incident.
“The suspects fled the scene and are being pursued by police. The motive for the multiple murder case is yet to be determined,” he stated.
The Western Cape Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC, Reagen Allen, expressed horror at the incident, stressing the urgency of apprehending the perpetrators.
“Clearly, these criminals have no regard for life and have chosen to live outside the parameters of our laws,” he remarked, emphasising the need for community cooperation in solving the crime.
This incident follows a recent pattern of violence in Khayelitsha. Just six weeks prior, three men were murdered at a shebeen in the Enkanini informal settlement.
Khayelitsha has been grappling with a surge in gun violence, casting a dark shadow over the community.
Despite efforts to curb crime, residents face the grim reality of frequent shootings.