A quiet evening in Gordon's Bay was shattered on Tuesday night when a shooting at the Gordon's Bay Mall resulted in the deaths of three men. Police are investigating the incident, which they suspect is linked to gang activity.
The incident occurred around 9.30pm in the mall's parking lot. According to police reports, the three men, aged between 40 and 45, were seated inside a vehicle when they were approached by unknown gunmen. Multiple shots were fired, resulting in the immediate deaths of the victims.
Two of the men were found dead inside the vehicle, while the third was discovered lying on the pavement outside the car. The gunmen fled the scene in their vehicle, prompting an immediate manhunt by Western Cape police.
Brigadier Novela Potelwa, a spokesperson for the SAPS, confirmed that a triple murder docket has been registered for investigation. "Western Cape police have launched a manhunt for gunmen after three men between the ages of 40 and 45 were shot and killed in Gordon’s Bay on Tuesday evening," Potelwa stated. "Official reports indicate that the deceased men were in the parking lot at Gordon’s Bay Mall at approximately 9.30pm when unknown gunmen travelling in a vehicle approached them and shots were fired. Two victims died inside the vehicle and another outside the car. The suspects later fled in their vehicle."
The identities of the victims have not yet been released, pending formal identification and notification of their families. Emergency services declared all three men dead at the scene.
Ward councillor Sean Stacey expressed his shock and sadness at the incident. "I think everyone is still coming to terms with what happened, as it happened late last night," Stacey said. "We are all surprised and deeply saddened by it. This is not a very common occurrence." He added that he had heard reports of people still being at the mall when the shooting occurred, possibly using the ATM, which remains accessible even after the mall's closure. "I do not know all the details as it is still very early, but I feel at the moment that it is isolated information but my opinion might change as more information comes to light," Stacey concluded.
The incident has raised concerns about the spread of gang activity to areas previously considered safe. Abie Isaacs, Chairperson of the Cape Flats Safety Forum, condemned the killings and called for a strong governmental response to escalating gang activity. "We as the Cape Flats Safety Forum condemn these shootings in the strongest terms," Isaacs stated. "We once again call for the deployment of the SANDF and to declare a State of Disaster too. What is concerning is that it seems gang activity has moved to other areas now, but we hope SAPS have a stabilising team in place."
The investigation is ongoing, and police are appealing to the public for any information that may assist in identifying and apprehending the perpetrators. The incident has left the Gordon's Bay community reeling, as authorities work to determine the full circumstances surrounding the triple murder and address the underlying issues that may have contributed to the tragedy.
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