Residents on the Cape Flats say relentless gun violence has turned them into prisoners in their own homes after a three-year-old child and five adults were shot in two separate attacks across Wynberg and Elsies River.
The shootings unfolded on Wednesday afternoon and early Thursday morning, leaving one man dead and five others—including the toddler—nursing gunshot wounds.
Early-morning fatal shooting in Wynberg
In the most recent attack, a 32-year-old man was shot dead and a woman was wounded at the corner of Broad Road and Brisbane Road in Wynberg at around 5.20am on Thursday, 5 November.
The man died at the scene, while the injured woman was rushed to a medical facility for emergency treatment. Surrounding roads were closed off as police processed the crime scene.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel FC van Wyk confirmed that detectives are investigating the shooting.
“Circumstances surrounding a shooting incident early this morning, Thursday, 2026-11-05, at about 05:20 at the corner of Broad Road and Brisbane Road, Wynberg, in which a 32-year-old male was shot and fatally wounded and a female injured, are under investigation,” Van Wyk said.
“The injured victim was taken to hospital for treatment. Wynberg police registered a murder and an attempted murder case for investigation.”
Toddler and three men wounded in Elsies River drive-by
The Wynberg attack came less than 24 hours after a three-year-old child and three men, aged between 25 and 31, were shot in a suspected gang-related drive-by shooting in Eureka Estate, Elsies River, on Wednesday afternoon.
According to police reports, a group of people was sitting at the corner of Athena Avenue and Arion Street when a silver Suzuki drove past them.
“The driver of the vehicle drove to the end of the street, where he picked up three unidentified males and drove past the group again,” Van Wyk explained.
“As they passed, the males started shooting at the group of people, injuring four of them. Three adult males aged between 25 and 31 and a three-year-old child were injured. All victims sustained flesh wounds.”
Paramedics treated all four victims for their injuries at the scene, and Van Wyk noted that none of them wanted to be taken to hospital.
“The motive is believed to be gang related. Ravensmead police registered four counts of attempted murder for investigation,” he added.
‘We have to be hostages in our own homes’
For locals living in the affected areas, the bloodshed has become an inescapable part of daily life, forcing parents to lock their children indoors to keep them out of the line of fire.
One resident, who asked not to be named for safety reasons, described the constant terror gripping the neighbourhood.
“We have daily shootings in our community. As bad as it is, it has become the norm,” the resident said. “We have to be hostages in our own homes because you can't guarantee that you will make it back home alive when you set foot outside your house. I also have to keep my children in the house because they will shoot you dead here.”