A Heideveld family is breathing a sigh of relief after two young cousins were caught in the crossfire while buying snacks after school and suffered gunshot wounds.
The children, aged 10 and 12, were at a local corner shop on Wednesday afternoon when gunmen allegedly emerged from a grey BMW and opened fire.
A 19-year-old man was also wounded in the shooting at the corner of Jonkershoek and Bloukrans roads at approximately 4pm.
The children were taken to hospital by relatives and residents. Both were later declared out of danger and were recovering from their injuries.
The 10-year-old underwent a successful four-hour operation to remove a bullet from the ankle. The 12-year-old was shot in the hand and grazed by a bullet on the thigh.
Police have opened three counts of attempted murder. No arrests had been made and the motive remained unknown.
Grandmother hears gunfire
The children’s grandmother said she did not initially realise that her grandchildren had been caught in the shooting.
She said the cousins had come home from school, dropped off their bags and gone to the shop, as they often did after school.
“They came home, dropped their bags and went to the shop. They always go to the shop because they get money in the morning for school, and if they don’t use all the money, they buy something for themselves at the shop.
“I was at home when I heard the gunshots go off… and we thought it was a klappetjie, but then we heard more gunshots go off and realised that it was gunshots.
“I went outside when one of them ran to me crying hysterically; I just saw the blood coming from her sleeve… I froze and asked someone, I can’t even remember who, to rush her to the day hospital.
“We heard the other child was also shot and is lying inside the shop. They also went to fetch him and carried him into a bakkie and rushed him to the day hospital.”
The grandmother’s account describes the confusion in the moments after the shooting, as residents tried to get the injured children to medical care.
Children suffer different injuries
The younger child was shot in the ankle and required emergency surgery. A bullet had lodged in an artery after damaging another, according to the family.
The operation to remove it lasted four hours and was successful. The child was out of danger and recovering after the procedure.
The older child suffered a gunshot wound to the hand and a bullet graze on the thigh. The bullet did not break any bones, but the wound to the hand was severe enough to require stitches.
Her aunt said she held the child’s fingers together while doctors treated the injury.
The children’s family said it was grateful that both were alive and able to recover. The aunt stressed that the family had no involvement in gangsterism.
“We are just thankful that they are safe and able to make a full recovery because we are not involved in any gangsterism or anything, but the shooters don’t care anymore.”
The family has not provided further details about the children’s recovery or how long they are expected to remain in hospital.
Police investigate attempted murders
Police spokesperson Constable Ndakhe Gwala confirmed that Manenberg police had registered three counts of attempted murder.
The shooting occurred on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, at the corner of Jonkershoek and Bloukrans roads.
Gwala said:
“According to reports, a grey BMW stopped on the street and two male suspects came out and fired shots…”
Police have not released the registration number of the vehicle or confirmed the identities of the suspects. The motive remains under investigation.
The three attempted-murder charges relate to the two children and the 19-year-old man who were wounded. Police have not said whether the gunmen were targeting one particular person or whether the victims were unintended targets.
Investigators may seek information from residents who witnessed the shooting, footage from nearby properties and descriptions of the grey BMW and the suspects.
Members of the public with information should contact Manenberg police or Crime Stop. They should not approach anyone they suspect of involvement.
Separate Heideveld shooting
The shooting involving the two children was followed by a separate shooting in Heideveld on Thursday morning.
Police said one man was killed and another was wounded inside a house in Suther Peak Road at approximately 8.20am.
The injured man was taken to hospital. Details about the circumstances of the second shooting, the identity of the deceased and a possible motive had not been released.
Police have not indicated that the Thursday morning shooting is connected to the attack at the corner shop on Wednesday afternoon. The incidents are being treated as separate matters unless investigators establish otherwise.
Family focuses on recovery
The children’s relatives are now focused on their recovery after an ordinary after-school trip ended in violence.
The family said the cousins had gone to buy snacks with money left over from their school allowance. They were not involved in the shooting and were among those wounded when gunfire erupted at the shop.
The successful operation on the 10-year-old and the treatment of the 12-year-old’s hand have brought some relief to the family, although both children may face a period of physical and emotional recovery.
At the latest update, both children were out of danger, the 19-year-old victim was in hospital and police were searching for the suspects. No arrests had been announced.