A Lavender Hill shooting survivor hid in a dirt bin and played dead as gunmen allegedly stepped over him during a mass shooting that left five people dead and three others wounded.
The survivor, who was shot in the leg, said remaining completely still was what saved his life as the attackers moved through the scene looking for victims.
The horror unfolded at a gathering inside a home in Blode Street at about 8pm on Saturday, 24 October 2026.
According to preliminary information, gunmen forced their way into the home and opened fire.
Four men and a woman, aged between 21 and 33, were killed. Another man and two women were wounded and taken to a medical facility for treatment.
The survivor said he could feel the shooters stepping over him as he lay motionless, pretending to be dead.
He also told how another wounded man lying next to him began moving and was allegedly shot again by the attackers.
The survivor said the man did not survive.
The account has provided investigators with a potentially important eyewitness description of the attack, although police have not released details about the suspects or the weapons used.
Survivor played dead to stay alive
The survivor was among the people caught in the gunfire inside the home.
After being shot in the leg, he hid in a dirt bin and kept his body completely still as the gunmen moved around him.
He said the shooters stepped over him while he pretended to be dead.
The decision to remain motionless may have prevented the attackers from recognising that he was still alive.
The survivor’s account suggests that the gunmen continued moving through the property after the first burst of gunfire and may have checked some of the people lying on the ground.
He said a wounded man who was lying beside him started moving, after which the attackers allegedly finished him off.
The allegation has not been independently confirmed, and investigators are expected to rely on forensic evidence and statements from other witnesses to establish exactly what happened inside the home.
The survivor was taken for medical treatment. His condition was not provided, but he was able to recount the attack.
Residents heard more than 20 shots
Residents living close to the scene said they heard a long burst of gunfire and believed the attack may have been linked to gang violence.
One resident said she was preparing supper for her children when she heard what she initially thought might be firecrackers.
“The shooting was after 7pm. I was busy making supper for my children and then I was like, are those gunshots? I ran out and then I heard the commotion.
“I do know the people in the flat where they shot. I do know the woman and the guy in the wheelchair who was shot. The shooting is definitely gang-related.”
Another resident said the sound of the gunfire forced people to remain inside their homes.
“I don’t know what time the shooting took place but it was a lot. Probably more than 20. We had to stay in the house when we heard the gunshots.”
The accounts reflect the fear that spread through the community as residents tried to determine whether the attackers were still in the area.
Police have not yet confirmed the number of shots fired or established whether the victims were specifically targeted.
Police investigate possible gang link
Police suspect that the attack may be gang-related, but the motive has not yet been established.
At the time of the latest police statement, no arrests had been made. Anti-Gang Unit detectives were searching for the people responsible.
Brigadier Novela Potelwa said:
“AGU detectives are hard at work in search of the perpetrators of the act.”
The South African Police Service has appealed to anyone with information to come forward.
Western Cape police have offered a R100,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and successful prosecution of the people responsible for the mass shooting.
Information can be provided anonymously through Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or via the MySAPS mobile application.
Investigators are likely to need information about the identity of the gunmen, the vehicles used, the route taken after the attack and any disputes that may have preceded the shooting.
Residents who heard or saw anything suspicious are urged to contact police, even if they believe the information is minor.
Attack follows recent Steenberg shootings
The Lavender Hill mass shooting happened only days after two men, aged 23 and 37, were gunned down on Military Road in Steenberg at about 12.30pm on Tuesday, 20 October.
Following that attack, police launched an operation that led to the arrest of five suspects aged between 27 and 40.
Two assault rifles were seized after the suspects allegedly fled in a red Volkswagen Polo, abandoned the vehicle in Kirstenhof and hijacked a Toyota RunX before they were apprehended.
The latest shooting also follows an earlier attack in Lavender Hill on 6 October.
Two men were killed and a third was wounded at Muir Court in Depsiton Crescent. Police suspected that incident was gang-related.
The repeated shootings have intensified concern among residents and community leaders about illegal firearms and ongoing gang conflict in the area.
The incidents also place pressure on the Anti-Gang Unit and other police teams to identify those behind the violence and prevent retaliatory attacks.
Minister condemns ‘senseless bloodshed’
Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety Anroux Marais condemned the latest violence.
“No community should have to endure such senseless bloodshed or live in constant fear for their safety. We cannot allow criminals to terrorise our communities. The time for decisive, sustained action against gangs is now!” she said.
Marais called on police to intensify intelligence-led operations against gangs and disrupt their access to illegal firearms and ammunition.
Her comments came as investigators worked to identify the five people killed and establish what led to the shooting.
The ages of the victims were provided, but their names had not been released in the latest update.
Their families will have to be formally informed before police can publish their identities.
The three wounded victims may also assist investigators once they are medically stable and able to provide statements.
R100,000 reward for information
The Western Cape police reward is intended to encourage people with direct knowledge of the shooting to provide information that can move the investigation forward.
The reward will be paid only for information that results in the arrest and successful prosecution of those responsible.
Police have not confirmed whether the suspects are known to the victims or whether the attack was connected to a specific gang dispute.
The possible gang motive remains an investigative line rather than an established fact.
For now, detectives are working with the survivor’s account, residents’ descriptions of the gunfire and evidence collected at the Blode Street scene.
Five families are mourning loved ones, three wounded people are recovering from the attack and a frightened community is once again demanding action against gun violence.
At the latest update, no arrests had been made. The investigation into five murders, three attempted murders and the alleged gang-related attack was continuing.