SCENE: Reported drive-by shooting
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Residents of Lavender Hill are urged to remain indoors for safety measures after gun violence claimed another innocent life.
Community crime groups were filled with reports from the ongoing heavy shootings in various parts of Lavender Hill over the weekend.
Councilor Marita Petersen said: "The community is frustrated regarding the gang violence that is happening because you can’t go to work safely, you get robbed and there are random shootings where children are being taken out.”
“As the leadership in the community, I think everyone should come together and put their differences aside and see how we can work together.
We need a safety plan which is not just conducive but more aggressive, because the violence is totally out of hand.”
“The gang violence creates a spillover into Steenberg and the shootings cross boundaries which affect all of our communities. The communities are not divided by wards.
"There were a helluva lot of shootings on Saturday night. Not just in Lavender Hill, but Steenberg. We need these guns off the streets.”
Captain FC van Wyk said that Muizenberg Police are investigating a murder after a 17-year-old male who was shot and killed on Thursday evening.
Van Wyk reports: “Upon arrival at the crime scene in Military Road at about 9.30pm, they found the body of a male who sustained a gunshot wound. The victim, aged 17 was declared deceased on the scene by the medical personnel.”
“The unknown suspects fled the scene and they are yet to be arrested. The motive for this attack is yet to be determined.”
SHOT DEAD: Victim Tyrelle Jonker
Image: Supplied
In a separate incident, a drive-by shooting took place on Friday evening in Joe Marks, with additional shots fired on Hek Road.
Resident and community activist Dorothy Soetwater said that load shedding is a contributing factor to the ongoing gun violence, as the lights were out from 6pm on Saturday until after 7am on Sunday morning.
Soetwater explains: “It is pik donker. Obviously the jongens are going to take advantage. Apparently they were busy with maintenance.
"Almost everyday our young people’s lives are being taken. The shootings don’t just take place over the weekend, but during the week as well. It is like a sudden flame that is sparked.”
“We as the residents live in fear, you can’t trust walking around or send the children to the shop. It is erg. When they shoot, they shoot to kill even when the children are walking from school, it is heart breaking.”
“For the past few nights, we knew that when it was 9pm dan ruk die ding. It sounds like machine guns and it is getting worst.”
She said that the community is scared to voice their concern as they were planning to picket but residents did not pitch out of fear.
Van Wyk urges anyone with information to please call Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or alternatively use the mobile application MySAPS anonymously.