Gang Shooting Erupts in Hanover Park: 4 People Shot, Including Teenager and Grandfather

Hanover Park is once again under siege as gang violence continues to plague the community. On Saturday night, four people were shot and wounded, including a 14-year-old boy and his grandfather, after gangsters opened fire near a shop in the area.

According to Kashiefa Mohammed, spokesperson for the local Community Police Forum (CPF), the victims were innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire as they stood near the winkel.

Three of the victims, including the teenage boy and his grandfather, were rushed to hospital in private transport for treatment. The boy sustained a gunshot wound to the leg, while his grandfather was hit in the hand. The third victim's injuries were not disclosed.

The fourth victim, a 19-year-old male, was shot in the head. He was treated at the scene and is reportedly recovering.

Mohammed explained that the shooting was gang-related and that the victims were not the intended targets. "The shooting is gang-related. They were not shooting at them [the victims] directly, they were caught in the crossfire when gangsters started opening fire," she said.

Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi confirmed that Philippi police are investigating four counts of attempted murder.

"Philippi police responded to a complaint on Saturday, 7 June 2025. Upon their arrival in Groenport Walk, Hanover Park, they found a 19-year-old man who sustained a gunshot wound," Swartbooi reported. "He was transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment."

He added that the other three victims, including the 14-year-old, had already been transported to hospitals by private transport. The suspects remain at large. "The unknown suspects fled and they are yet to be arrested. The motive for this attack is now the subject of an investigation," Swartbooi stated.

Kashiefa Mohammed expressed deep concern about the ongoing gun violence in Hanover Park, saying that it has kept the community under constant duress for weeks.

"These gangsters don't care, they see it is a young boy and her grandfather but they still shoot. There is no respect, these gangsters do as they please," she lamented.

Mohammed also criticised the police response, claiming that delays in attending crime scenes are exacerbating the problem. "Police are failing our community because we have to wait on police for two to three hours to attend to a crime scene," she said.

She further alleged that community members are willing to cooperate with the police and provide information about the shooters, but that arrests are not being made. "We have community members who want to work with police, who tell police who the shooters are but there are no arrests," Mohammed claimed.

The ongoing violence has created a climate of fear and anxiety in Hanover Park. "The community is very tense. As a grandmother, I fear for my grandchildren to walk outside because these shooters don't care about women and children and it is the innocent people that are getting shot and killed," Mohammed said.

She emphasised the relentless nature of the gang warfare, stating, "The shootings are ongoing. As the CPF, you attend to one incident and then another incident happens."

Mohammed called for increased police presence and more resources to combat the escalating violence. "The entire Hanover Park is in a gang war. We need more police visibility and more boots on the ground," she urged.

The police are appealing to anyone with information about the shooting to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or to use the MySAPS mobile application anonymously.

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