Mitchells Plain is once again grappling with a surge in gang-related shootings, as the Community Police Forum (CPF) makes an urgent appeal to residents for assistance in bringing the perpetrators to justice. The ongoing violence has seen a rise in fatalities and injuries, sparking increased concern amongst residents.
The call for community involvement comes in the wake of a series of recent shootings. On Tuesday morning, the violence struck twice, claiming the lives of two young men in separate incidents. In Westridge, a 24-year-old man was fatally shot in Simonsig Avenue at approximately 9:10 am. Just half an hour later, at 9:40 am, another man, aged 25, was killed in Fawn Street, Harmony Village, Lentegeur.
Police spokesperson Captain F.C Van Wyk confirmed the details of the Westridge shooting. "Mitchells Plain police registered a murder case following a shooting incident on Tuesday, 2025-07-02 at about 09:10 at Simonsig Avenue, Westridge, Mitchells Plain, where a 24-year-old male was shot and fatally wounded," he stated.
According to Van Wyk, police officers responding to the complaint discovered the victim's body at the scene. The man was dressed in brown tracksuit trousers and a blue hooded top, and had suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the chest, stomach, and hands. Paramedics declared him dead at the scene due to the severity of his injuries. "The person was deceased and declared dead by paramedics on the scene due to injuries sustained," Van Wyk confirmed. The assailant or assailants fled the scene and remain at large, with the motive for the attack still under investigation. "The unknown assailant/s fled the scene and are yet to be arrested. The motive for this attack now forms part of the police investigation," Van Wyk added.
The second shooting, which occurred in Lentegeur, is also being treated as a murder case. Captain Van Wyk reported that police were called to Fawn Street, Harmony Village, at approximately 9:40 am, where they found the body of a 25-year-old man with multiple gunshot wounds to the head. "According to reports SAPS members on duty received a complaint of a shooting incident at the mentioned address and upon their arrival members discovered the body of the 25 year old male with multiple gunshot wounds to his head,” Van Wyk said. Medical personnel declared him dead at the scene. "He was declared deceased on the scene by medical personnel. Circumstances surrounding this incident are under investigation. The unknown assailant/s fled the scene and are yet to be arrested,” Van Wyk stated, confirming that the circumstances surrounding this incident are under investigation and the motive is believed to be gang-related.
These incidents follow a particularly violent Sunday afternoon, during which two men were shot and killed in separate shootings in Beacon Valley and Portlands. A 13-year-old was also shot and wounded, further highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the ongoing violence.
Michael Jacobs from the Lentegeur CPF has expressed his condolences to the family of the deceased and has strongly condemned the recent surge in violence, urging the community to collaborate with the South African Police Service (SAPS) to combat gun violence.
Jacobs stated: “I can confirm that shooting took place yesterday and it’s alleged to be gang related. We as a CPF wish to express our sincere condolences to the family of the deceased and call upon the police to do the necessary investigation and to ensure that the perpetrator(s) are brought to book."
Jacobs also highlighted the areas within the Lentegeur precinct where gang violence and shootings persistently occur. He emphasised the crucial role that community members can play in providing information to the SAPS regarding these shootings, as well as the locations where guns and drugs are being stored. "There are still areas in Lentegeur precinct that gang violence and shootings stubbornly persist and we call on the community to assist SAPS in providing information on these shootings and where guns and drugs are stored,” Jacobs added.
Police are appealing to anyone with information about these shooting incidents to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111. Information can also be submitted anonymously via the MySAPS mobile application. The police have assured the community that all information received will be treated with the strictest confidence.
The recent upsurge in gang-related violence has left residents living in fear, with many afraid to leave their homes, especially at night. The community is desperate for a solution to this ongoing problem, and the CPF believes that a collaborative effort between the police and the community is the key to restoring peace and security to Mitchells Plain. The hope is that by working together, they can create a safer environment for all residents and bring an end to the senseless violence that has plagued the area for far too long.
The police and the CPF are committed to working tirelessly to address the issue of gang violence in Mitchells Plain. However, they cannot do it alone. They need the support of the community to provide them with the information they need to identify and apprehend the perpetrators of these crimes.
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