14-year-old Elsies River boy shot dead, two more teenagers and an elderly man also shot in crossfire

Cape Town – Gun has once again reared its ugly head in Eureka Estate, Elsies River, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. A 14-year-old boy has tragically lost his life, while two other teenagers and an elderly man sustained injuries in a brazen shooting on Saturday evening.

The incident occurred around 6.30pm in the backyard of a property on Canterbury Street. The victims, aged 13, 16, and 63, were caught in the crossfire, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of gun in the area.

Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk confirmed the tragic details of the incident, stating that the motive for the attack remains under investigation.

"Ravensmead police registered a murder and three counts of attempted murder following a shooting incident on 23 August at about 18:30 at a premises in Canterbury Street, Eureka Estate, where a 14-year-old male was shot and fatally wounded and three others aged 13, 16 and 63 injured. The injured victims were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment," Van Wyk reported.

According to initial reports, police officers responded to a complaint of a shooting at the mentioned address. Upon arrival, they discovered the lifeless body of a young boy in the yard, bearing multiple gunshot wounds to the head. The injured victims had already been transported to nearby medical facilities for urgent medical attention.

"The motive for this incident forms part of continued investigations. The circumstances surrounding this shooting incident are under investigation and no arrests have been made," Van Wyk added, emphasizing the ongoing efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The incident in Elsies River underscores the alarming escalation of gun plaguing various communities across the Cape in recent months. Deadly shootings have become an almost daily occurrence, casting a dark shadow over the lives of residents and instilling a pervasive sense of fear.

Abie Isaacs, chairperson of the Cape Flats Safety Forum, expressed deep concern over the escalating and called for decisive action to address the root causes of the problem. He reiterated the Forum's call for the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to assist the South African Police Service (SAPS) in stabilising crime in affected communities. Isaacs also urged community members to play an active role in assisting authorities by reporting any information related to crime.

"The Cape Flats Safety Forum has noted with concern the current escalation of gun shootings in and around the Cape Flats," Isaacs stated.

He emphasised the need for a multi-faceted approach to combatting , including increased police presence, targeted interventions to address socio-economic factors, and community-based initiatives to promote safety and security.

"We will continue to call for SANDF deployment as force multiplier to assist SAPS in stabilising crime. We call for special probe to be set up in dealing with gun . The current plan from our view has not proven to reduce crime. We call on communities to assist agencies in reporting crime," Isaacs explained.

The call for SANDF deployment reflects the growing frustration and desperation among community members who feel that existing measures are insufficient to address the escalating . The presence of the military is seen as a way to provide additional manpower and resources to law enforcement efforts, as well as to deter would-be criminals.

However, the deployment of the SANDF is not without its critics, who argue that it is not a long-term solution and that it may lead to unintended consequences, such as the militarisation of communities and the erosion of trust between residents and law enforcement.

In addition to calling for SANDF deployment, Isaacs also emphasised the importance of community involvement in addressing . He urged residents to report any suspicious activity or information related to crime to the authorities, stressing that community cooperation is essential for effective law enforcement.

"We call on communities to assist agencies in reporting crime," Isaacs reiterated.

The police have echoed this call, appealing to anyone with information about the fatal shooting in Eureka Estate to come forward.

"Police are appealing to anyone with any information about this fatal incident is kindly requested to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the mobile application MySAPS anonymously," Captain Van Wyk stated.