Gang Drive-By Shooting in Kensington Leaves Four Wounded
Cape Town – A brazen drive-by shooting in Kensington on Saturday morning has left four men injured, prompting a police investigation and renewed calls for peace talks between rival gangs. The incident, which occurred at the corner of 12th Street and 6th Avenue, has heightened tensions in the community, particularly with schools set to reopen in the coming days.
According to police spokesperson Constable Ndakhe Gwala, the shooting took place at approximately 9.44am on 10 January 2026. "Kensington Police registered four counts of attempted murder, following a shooting incident that occurred at the corner of 12th Street and 6th Avenue in Kensington this morning," Gwala stated.
The victims, all males aged between 26 and 32, were standing on the street when a white Toyota Etios, carrying three occupants, drove past and opened fire. One man sustained two gunshot wounds to the chest, while the other three were shot in the legs. All four were immediately transported to nearby medical facilities for treatment.
"At around 9.44am, four males aged between 26 and 32 were standing in the street, a white Toyota Etios with three occupants, drove by and started shooting," Gwala confirmed. "One of the victims sustained two gunshot wounds on his chest while the other three sustained wounds to their legs."
The motive for the shooting is currently under investigation, and no arrests have been made as yet. However, authorities believe the incident is gang-related, stemming from an ongoing feud between two local rival gangs, allegedly the Americans and the Nice Time Kids.
Local ward councillor Cheslyn Steenberg has expressed his deep concern over the escalating violence and its impact on the community. "This is gang-related. The men are alleged members of one of the local gangs," Steenberg explained. "We will never know the real reason behind this current gang violence happening in the community but what we do know from our information on the ground is that it’s a fight between two local gangs."
Steenberg's office has been actively trying to mediate between the gangs, but these efforts have been hampered by the unwillingness of one of the groups to engage in peace talks. "From my office side, we are constantly trying to broker peace with the support of our religious and community leaders in the ward but it is difficult if all parties are not willing to come to the table," Steenberg said. "One gang is willing to talk peace, the other is not willing to talk peace."
The councillor also highlighted the challenges faced by law enforcement in addressing the gang violence. "SAPS is doing what they need to do with the resources they have at their disposal, with the help of Law Enforcement and Metro Police," he acknowledged.
A significant concern raised by Steenberg is the alleged practice of community members harbouring gang members, their weapons, and ammunition in their homes. "Another concern we have is community members shielding these gangs' guns and ammunition at their homes," he stated.
In response, Steenberg's office has initiated a process of reporting suspected properties to the relevant city departments. "My office has started the process where we are reporting known city houses and rentals to the relevant departments within the city who are harbouring these gangsters and their guns," he explained.
The shooting has prompted renewed calls for a multi-faceted approach to address the root causes of gang violence in Kensington, including increased police visibility, social intervention programmes, and community-led initiatives to promote peace and reconciliation. With schools scheduled to reopen soon, there is a growing sense of urgency to find a lasting solution to the ongoing conflict and ensure the safety and well-being of all residents.
"Sadly, the gang violence is affecting everyone in the community and I am quite concerned because schools are opening in the next few days," Steenberg added. "I hope we can find a solution and peace to this that will benefit everybody."
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