Cape Town - A bloody gang war in Mitchells Plain has claimed three more lives, bringing the death toll to eight in just one week.
Fearful residents say they have not sent their children to school this week, and blame the gunfire on a local druglord.
Residents say rival gangs, the Yakkies and Dixie Boys in Lentegeur, as well as the Americans and the Mongrels in Beacon Valley, have been at each other’s throats since 19 August.
On Sunday, three murders were reported. Cops were first called to Alpine Street, Beacon Valley, at 1:34pm where a 19-year-old man only identified as “Nose” was shot and killed.
Police spokesperson Sinathi Joni says cops have opened a murder docket.
She says at 6:47pm, police were called to the corner of Merrydale Road and Highlands Drive in Lentegeur, where the body of Nasief “Hout” Davids, 29, was found riddled with bullets.
He was shot in the head, chest and arm and died at the scene.
Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk confirms the shooting is gang-related: “The motive is gang-related. No persons have been arrested. Police are investigating a case of murder.”
Three hours later, cops were called to Bicycle Street in Beacon Valley where a 35-year-old man only identified as “Shaun” was shot moments after he went to a tuck shop.
Van Wyk explains: “The deceased went to the nearby shop when he was shot by three assailants who were on foot.”
Residents say the gang war was sparked two weeks ago by a drug merchant in the area.
“It’s more war in Lentegeur after Nasief, aka Hout Dixi, was killed and this morning they came and shot at the druglord’s house,” a woman says.
Another mother says they are too scared to leave their homes: “I haven’t sent my daughter to school since last week when the school sent everyone home due to the shootings in Aloe Street.
“People are living in fear and what is actually being done about it? I care about my 10-year-old daughter who has to walk to and from school.”
Rafique Foflonker, Public Relations Officer for the Mitchells Plain Cluster Forum, has called on authorities to create safe spaces for youngsters.
“We condemn the senseless killings and we need to look at alternative programmes for the youth,” he says.
Last week, four people were killed in gang-
related incidents in Mitchells Plain.
However, family and residents say Brandon Wiese, who was killed on Tuesday in Aloe Street, Lentegeur, was innocent and was not a gangster.