Four counts of attempted murder are under investigation after four men were shot and seriously wounded in Maitland, Cape Town.
The attack happened at approximately 8pm at the corner of Coronation Road and First Avenue. Police said the four men were approached by unknown gunmen, who opened fire on the unsuspecting victims before fleeing the area.
All four men suffered serious injuries and were taken to a medical facility for treatment. Police have not released their identities or provided an update on their medical condition.
The shooting happened during a deadly period of violence in South Africa. Eighteen people were killed in a tavern shooting in Wedela, west of Johannesburg, the previous weekend, while another 10 people were gunned down at a shisanyama in Lwandle, near Cape Town.
Just one day before the Maitland attack, four people were killed in a late-night shooting in Lentegeur, Mitchells Plain. Police have not said that the incidents are connected, and the Maitland case is being investigated separately.
Police confirm attempted-murder cases
Provincial police spokesperson Constable Ndakhe Gwala confirmed that officers were still searching for the people responsible. No arrests had been made at the latest update.
Gwala said the circumstances surrounding the shooting remained under investigation.
“Maitland police registered four counts of attempted murder following a shooting incident at the corners of Coronation Road and First Avenue on Thursday, 1 October 2026 at about 8pm.
“According to reports, four adult males sustained serious injuries and were transported to a medical facility for treatment. The motive for the attack is a subject of police investigation and the suspects are still at large.”
Police have not confirmed how many attackers were involved, what weapons were used or whether the gunmen arrived in a vehicle. Investigators are also working to establish whether the victims were known to their attackers or whether they were targeted at random.
The motive has not been established. Until detectives have gathered more information, police have not linked the shooting to robbery, gang violence or any other specific cause.
Appeal for information
Police have appealed to anyone with information that could assist the investigation to come forward. Witnesses who saw the shooting, observed the suspects arriving or leaving, or may have information about the victims’ movements are being urged to contact the authorities.
Information can be provided anonymously to Crime Stop on 08600 10111. Members of the public can also submit information through the MySAPS mobile application.
The appeal comes as investigators work to identify the shooters and determine what led to the attack. Detectives are expected to gather statements from the injured men when they are able to provide them, speak to people in the area and examine any available evidence from the scene.
Growing concern after deadly attacks
The Maitland shooting has added to concern following several fatal shooting incidents reported in Gauteng and the Western Cape in recent days.
In Wedela, 18 people died after armed men allegedly entered a tavern and opened fire on patrons inside and outside the venue. In Lwandle, 10 people were killed at a shisanyama after gunmen reportedly opened fire on patrons. Four people were also killed in Lentegeur, Mitchells Plain, the night before the Maitland attack.
The available information does not establish a connection between these incidents. They occurred at different venues and involved separate police investigations. Authorities have not announced that the same suspects, weapons or motive were involved.
In Maitland, the four victims survived the attack but suffered serious injuries. Their condition could not be confirmed beyond the police statement that they were taken to a medical facility.
The investigation remains open, and the suspects are still at large. Police are expected to provide further information if arrests are made or if detectives establish a motive for the shooting.
For now, four attempted-murder cases have been registered, while families and the wider Maitland community wait for answers about who carried out the attack and why the four men were targeted.