A Shallcross father is calling for government intervention after his home was riddled with bullets by suspected gangsters operating in the area.
The 50-year-old businessman, who requested anonymity because of safety concerns, said the incident occurred on Saturday around 11pm.
He was in bed, his 26-year-old daughter was in her bedroom and his 19-year-old son was in the kitchen, he said. His 45-year-old wife and younger daughter, 11, were in the lounge.
“All of a sudden we heard what sounded like an automatic gun go off. Bullets shattered a glass sliding door at the front of the house. The sofa my wife and daughter had been lying on was also struck, missing them by inches,” he said.
“A piece of glass from the sliding door hit my son, cutting his tongue.”
When he heard the gunfire the man immediately rolled on to the floor, he said.
His family members did the same and crawled around looking for cover, and for each other.
“Once the gunfire stopped we heard tyres screeching and then silence. I was so fearful I was going to find my wife and children dead.”
The man said although the ordeal lasted about two minutes, it felt much longer.
“Once everyone was calm I contacted the police,” he said. “I cannot understand who would want to harm us. I have been living in this area for most of my life and this is the first time something like this has happened to me.”
He said Shallcross was not what it used to be.
“This is not the first incident. Earlier in the day there was shooting at a shopping centre, then at another home, for no reason.
“This area has become riddled with crime, gangsterism and drug peddling. I believe these random shootings are done to strike fear in the hearts of the community.”
The man said the government needed to step in and assist the community.
“The police are not doing enough to secure our safety. Today we were lucky no one was hurt; tomorrow another family would not be so lucky. It is only God’s intervention that saved us.”
Another resident said the community was too afraid to speak up and were being taken advantage of.
“We are not safe in our own homes and something needs to be done to help us. We have lost faith in the police system. Patrols are not even going to help us. We need greater intervention.”
Police spokesman Major Thulani Zwane said a case of attempted murder was being investigated.