Tafelsig is reeling after two 18-year-olds — a girl and a boy — were shot dead outside a tuck shop in Laura Street on Friday night, while a 23-year-old man was wounded in the arm by a stray bullet in a shooting police believe is gang-related.
The attack, which happened at about 9.15pm on 24 July, echoes a violent pattern seen across parts of the Cape Flats, where tuck shops and small businesses have increasingly become sites of gunfire, either because they sit in contested territory or because they are places where people gather in the evenings. The Tafelsig shooting came just days after another deadly incident at a tuck shop in Hanover Park, where three people were shot — one fatally and two wounded — as previously reported.
In Tafelsig, two teenagers did not survive.
The girl, Keisha Samuels, died after being shot in the back. The boy was transported to hospital by private vehicle but was declared dead on arrival. The third victim, a 23-year-old man, was struck by stray bullets and suffered a gunshot wound to his right arm.
Provincial police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk confirmed the case details, including that the motive is believed to be gang-related. He said Mitchells Plain police registered two counts of murder and an attempted murder case and that no arrests have yet been made.
Van Wyk reported: “On Friday, 24 July at 9.15pm, SAPS members received a complaint of a shooting incident in front of a tuckshop at Laura Street, Tafelsig, Mitchells Plain.
“On the scene members found the body of a 18-year-old female with one gunshot wound to the back. The victim was declared deceased on the scene by medical personnel.
“According to reports a second victim 18-year-old male was transported to hospital with a private vehicle, he was declared deceased on arrival.
“Another victim, a 23-year-old male, was hit by a stray bullets. He sustained a gunshot wound to his right arm.
“Circumstances surrounding this shooting incident are under investigation. The motive is believed to be gang-related.
“Mitchells Plain police registered two counts of murder and an attempted murder case for investigation. No arrest has been made yet and investigation continues.”
The immediate aftermath has left families mourning, while residents again confront the fear that ordinary errands — stopping at a tuck shop, standing outside a corner business, walking down a street at night — can suddenly become deadly.
For the families of the two teenagers killed, the loss is especially bitter. Both victims were 18, an age that marks the transition into adulthood and the beginning of a life that should still be wide open with possibility. In Samuels’ case, tributes have flooded social media, painting a picture of a young woman known for warmth and humility.
One mourner wrote: “Keisha was a soft person and very humble girl and she always had a smile on her face.”
Samuels was also remembered in sporting circles. She apparently played netball for the Blackferns Netball Club at one stage, and the club posted a tribute describing her as part of their family and acknowledging the grief of her loved ones.
The club wrote: “With heavy hearts we mourn the passing of our ex player, Keisha Samuels.
“Keisha was part of our family and her light will be remembered by all who knew her on and off the pitch.
“We send our deepest condolences to her mother and family, to her sisters.
“You are in our thoughts and prayers.
“Rest in Peace, Keisha.”
When contacted by the Daily Voice, Samuels’ mother declined to comment, a response that reflects both the rawness of grief and the reality that families often face intense public attention after killings in gang-affected communities.
Police have not publicly released the name of the male teenager who died, nor have they provided details on how many shooters were involved, what weapons were used, or whether the victims were targeted or caught in crossfire. But Van Wyk’s confirmation that the motive is “believed to be gang-related” signals that detectives are viewing the shooting within the context of local criminal dynamics, where violence is sometimes used to assert control, retaliate, or intimidate.
The wounding of the 23-year-old man by a stray bullet also underscores a constant danger in these shootings: even when gunmen are aiming at a specific target, bullets often travel unpredictably and can strike bystanders with life-changing consequences. The victim in this case was shot in the right arm, and police have not said whether he remains in hospital or what his condition is beyond the injury described.
The repetition of similar scenes across the Cape Flats — Hanover Park one week, Tafelsig the next — has also raised questions about whether law enforcement is able to prevent retaliatory cycles and whether resources are being deployed in the right places at the right times. Tuck shops, often positioned as informal community hubs, become vulnerable because they attract foot traffic and gatherings, and because they may sit on routes that intersect gang territory. When shootings happen there, the impact spreads beyond the immediate victims: shop owners close early, residents avoid streets, and children grow up normalising violence as background noise.
For investigators, the work now includes canvassing the area for witnesses, seeking CCTV footage if available, analysing ballistic evidence, and trying to establish motive and identity. But in communities where residents fear retaliation, witness cooperation can be difficult. That is why police have repeated the call for anonymous tips and have provided reporting channels that do not require a person to identify themselves publicly.
Anyone with information that might help the police with the investigation is kindly requested to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or utilise the MySAPS App to report anonymously.
As police continue investigating, Tafelsig is left to mourn two teenagers whose lives ended outside a tuck shop at 9.15pm on a Friday night — and to live with the fear that another “same scenario” could play out again unless those responsible are traced, arrested and brought before court.
