Sisonke Mlamla-Dingela
Cape Town - Nine people have been shot, with eight killed and one wounded in two separate shooting incidents in KwaNobuhle, in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, on Thursday #MassKillings.
In the first incident, it is alleged that at about 11.45am, police were called following a shooting in Mabi Street where the bodies of four men were found inside a Mazda 323.
They had sustained multiple gunshot wounds to their upper bodies. Police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu said a fifth man (also with multiple gunshot wounds) was found behind the vehicle and was transported to a local hospital for medical treatment.
Naidu said a sixth victim who had already succumbed to his wounds was found lying a few metres further away from the car. The victims are between 18 and 25 years old, and the police are still seeking their identities.
In the second incident, at about 12.10pm, the bodies of three men were found in Zolanqini Street. Two were found inside a silver VW Polo, while the third was found lying outside the vehicle. All had multiple gunshot wounds to their bodies.
They are estimated to be between 32 and 40 years old. The vehicle was reported stolen in Humansdorp in May.
Provincial Police Commissioner Nomthetheleli Mene called on the communities to assist police in apprehending those responsible for the carnage. She has vowed that through a 72-hour-activation plan, all resources needed in the investigation would be utilised to swiftly trace and arrest the suspects.
“We are urgently appealing to the community of KwaNobuhle to form a solid frontline with the police in combating crime and protecting their communities from these heinous crimes. We condemn these horrible murders and our detectives will be working hard to make sure that these criminals are behind bars as quickly as possible,” said Mene.
Anyone with information about the incident can anonymously contact Crime Stop at 0860010111 or use the MySaps app.
Cape Times