Pine Valley, a danger zone after five people killed in weekend of violence

Wolseley police attended to another murder scene at the informal settlement Pine Valley, where they found the body of a man with gunshot wounds. Picture: Ayanda Ndamane/African News Agency (ANA)

Wolseley police attended to another murder scene at the informal settlement Pine Valley, where they found the body of a man with gunshot wounds. Picture: Ayanda Ndamane/African News Agency (ANA)

Published Aug 3, 2022

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Cape Town - Residents met with police on Tuesday following a bloody weekend in Pine Valley, Wolseley, where five people were killed, most of them at the same street.

Police spokesperson Wesley Twigg said, on Saturday at about 8:45am, a 28-year-old man was stabbed to death in an informal settlement in Wolseley. The suspects fled the scene. A 38-year-old man was also found with gunshots and stab wounds to the body at around the same time and was declared deceased on the scene by medical personnel.

At about 11.50am, Wolseley police attended to another murder scene at the informal settlement Pine Valley, where they found the body of a man with gunshot wounds.

“The suspects are yet to be arrested. A murder case was registered for investigation,” Twigg said.

On Sunday at about 8am a man was shot and fatally wounded in Hope Street, Pine Valley.

“According to reports Wolseley police were called to the crime scene where they found the victim with gunshot wounds to the body. The victim was declared deceased on the scene by paramedics. A murder case was registered for investigation. The unknown suspects are yet to be arrested.

“Furthermore a 45-year-old male was shot and fatally wounded in Hope Street, Pine Valley, Wolseley on Sunday evening at about 8.20pm. The victim sustained gunshot wounds to the body and was declared deceased on the scene by paramedics. The suspects fled the scene and are yet to be arrested,” Twigg said.

Pine Valley ward councillor Jacob Zalie said the community leadership and senior local police members met on Tuesday regarding the recent killings.

“We looked deep into what we can do immediately because people want action, they are tired of meeting after meeting and nothing happens. One of the things we looked deep into was more police visibility in the area and that is what the police promised. They have deployed Public Order Policing (POP) and Anti Gang Unit (AGU). The municipality has deployed more law enforcement officers and we are going to have a roadblock throughout the night.”

“It’s a sad moment for us as a community. This weekend, five people lost their lives and they are staying in the same area.

“We have previously alerted the municipality about the illegal structures in the area and they responded with a letter which was not enough for us. In 2016, there were about 4500 people staying in those structures and by last year there were about 11 000 people staying in the area, that shows you how fast the area is growing. Today we (are) sitting with a lawless area and it is really becoming a danger and war zone,” said Zalie.

DA Constituency Head in Witzenberg, Wendy Keizer-Philander said they echoed the community’s call on SAPS to increase their capacity at the local police station and to deal decisively with a crime in the area.

Anyone with information on the incidents can anonymously contact Crime Stop at 086 0010 111 or SMS Crime Line at 32211.

Cape Times

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