WITHIN a 48-hour period two people were shot and killed in suspected gang-related shootings at the Cafda village near Retreat.
This comes after police were called to the scene at the informal settlement on Wednesday where the body of a 17-year-old boy was found with bullet found.
And on Monday, a 63-year-old man from the same area was also shot and killed by a stray bullet following a shootout near his home.
The police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed the motive for Wednesday’s shooting was gang related.
“At about 07:30am Steenberg police were called to a crime scene in Blagden Street, Cafda, Retreat, where they found the body of a 17-year-old male with gunshot wounds to his body. The victim was declared deceased on the scene by medical personnel.
“Steenberg police are investigating a murder case. The suspects fled the scene and are yet to be arrested. The motive for the shooting is gang related,” said Twigg.
Spokesperson for the Steenberg Community Police Forum (CPF), Leanne Reid said they were concerned about the two shooting incidents.
“Steenberg CPF is disheartened by the current surge of gang-related shooting and killing in Cafda and Lavender Hill this week. (On Wednesday) a 17-year-old male was killed and (one Tuesday) morning a (63-year-old) bystander was fatally wounded,” said Reid.
She said they welcomed the deployment Law Enforcement Advancement Programme (LEAP) officers to their communities.
Last week, Weekend Argus reported on the deployment of 64 officers to the Steenberg and Grassy Park areas to help quell an increase in crime - a move some community members called ineffective.
“LEAP is here for cheap political points. They got a few firearms and arrested a few people and a bit of this and a bit of that, but the gang violence continues to escalate,” said crime activist, Yaseen Staggie.
The community of Steenberg held a protest four months ago calling for an increased police presence in the area to prevent the gang violence after three people were shot and killed.