A 17-year-old teenager is in hospital after he was shot on Wednesday morning near the corners of Leeukop and Stellenberg Streets in Belhar.
According to reports the perpetrator pulled up in a car and fired a volley of shots at the victim.
The police responded to the crime scene at around 9 am and found the boy who sustained gunshot wounds to his leg.
Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi said the victim was taken to hospital. The motive for the attack is unknown at this stage.
“The 17 year old man was transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.The suspect who fled the scene is yet to be arrested. Belhar police are investigating a case of attempted murder,” he said.
Activists in Belhar have raised concern for the safety of children and residents as the shooting took place in the morning when people were heading to work and children walking to school.
Local councillor Delmaine Cotte said at least five people were victims of shootings within a space of a week and that the community was upset.
“This is the fifth shooting in just a week. There is a group of gangsters that are known as the Mobsters who are always shooting people and sometimes they retaliate when their members are shot.
“Worse, (the latest incident) happened in the morning when children were going to school and people were going to work. In most cases it has always been either in the morning or the afternoon,” he said.
Another local activist Leon Smith warned that gangsters and drugs in Belhar was out of control and young people had become prey to these criminals.
“Gangsters recruit young people as well. There is organised crime because people who sit around do not stay in Belhar.
“We are fed up. It is difficult for ordinary people who do not have the resources to control this because (the gangsters) are not even scared of the police.
“The police have informed us that the police station is not resourced enough to end this problem,” he said.
Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stop on 08600 10111.