The Mitchell’s Plain Community Police Forum (CPF) has called on the community to come forward with information about the murders of three men and a woman in Portland yesterday.
The four people, aged between 30 and 32, were shot and killed at a house in Hazeldene Avenue early yesterday, Tuesday November 12.
Brigadier Novela Potelwa, spokesperson for the office of the acting provincial commissioner, Lieutenant General Sindile Christopher Mfazi, said members of SAPS Anti-Gang Unit and crime scene experts were combing the area for clues.
“A vehicle with occupants pulled up and three suspects got into the premises and fired multiple shots before they fled. Investigations by detectives are looking into all possibilities, including indications this could be gang-related,” she said.
Abie Isaacs, chairperson of Mitchell’s Plain CPF, condemned the shootings and asked the community to assist law enforcement and the police with information.
Mr Isaacs suspects the shootings were gang related. “These people are so determined. They show no fear,” he said.
A community worker, who was known to the Plainsman but who did not want to be named for safety reasons, said the house is a known “suiker huisie”, where people go to buy and use drugs. He said gang turf wars had recently started to flare up again.
A post on the Mitchell’s Plain Gangwatch Facebook page said the shooter(s) pulled up in an Isuzu bakkie at about 2.30am and opened fired on the occupants of the house.
The page also reports the early morning shooting of two young men in Jean Wells Street in New Woodlands on Sunday November 10. This was confirmed by provincial police spokesperson, Colonel André Traut, who said one boy was shot dead and another injured just after 2am on Sunday. “The possibility that the incident is gang-related is not ruled out,” he said.
Mitchell’s Plain police are also investigating a case of attempted murder after two men were shot and injured at a house in Peugeot Street, Beacon Valley, after 2.30pm on Thursday November 7.
Western Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana, said they were taken to hospital for treatment.
No one had yet been arrested.
“Police detectives are following up on leads,” Sergeant Rwexana said.
Hours earlier, Mitchell’s Plain police’s swift response foiled a business robbery at a cellular store at the Liberty Promenade Mall When police arrived at the mall, they saw the robbers leaving the store. A shootout between police and robbers followed and two men were shot and injured.
They were transported to hospital to receive treatment under police guard.
Sergeant Rwexana said seven men, aged between 20 and 40, were arrested and two firearms were recovered.
The men are due to appear in Mitchell’s Plain Magistrate’s Court as soon as they are charged.
The stolen property was recovered on the scene.
Lieutenant General Mfazi commended the officers for the arrests.
Brenda Bibby, Liberty Promenade Mall general manager, said the centre’s security teams immediately alerted SAPS, who successfully disabled the getaway vehicle and all perpetrators were apprehended.
She said shots were fired and that two of the perpetrators were injured in the mall’s parking lot as they attempted to flee the scene. “The safety and security of shoppers and tenants is of utmost importance to Liberty Promenade and we are working with the SAPS and security experts to assist with their investigation.”
The mall has been secured and is operating as normal.
Anyone with information that can help in the investigation of yesterday’s shooting in Portland, or other gang-related investigations, can contact SAPS’ Anti-Gang Unit hotline on 080 664 264.