A brazen drive-by shooting in Salt River and a separate fatal shooting in Delft South have once again highlighted Cape Town’s ongoing struggle with violent crime, as two incidents within hours of each other left communities shaken and police investigating multiple murder cases.
A 26-year-old man has died following a drive-by shooting in Salt River on Wednesday night, while a second victim remains in hospital after being wounded in the same incident. The attack took place at the corner of Burns and Pope Street, an area that has seen sporadic incidents of violent crime in recent years.
According to police, a group of men had been gathered at the location when a white Bantam bakkie approached. Occupants of the vehicle allegedly opened fire before fleeing the scene. The sudden nature of the attack left two men injured, both of whom attempted to flee before being transported to a nearby medical facility. The 26-year-old later succumbed to his injuries, while the 27-year-old remains under medical care.
Woodstock police responded to the scene at approximately 22:40, securing the area and collecting initial evidence. The investigation quickly escalated as members of the Flying Squad followed up on intelligence linked to the shooting. Their efforts resulted in the arrest of three male suspects believed to be connected to the incident.
Authorities have confirmed that one of the suspects was already wanted in connection with a separate attempted murder case, raising further concerns about repeat violent offenders operating within the area. Cases of murder and attempted murder have been opened, and the suspects are expected to appear in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court once formally charged. Police have not yet confirmed a motive for the shooting.
In a separate incident earlier the same evening, a 37-year-old off-duty South African National Defence Force member was shot and killed in Delft South, underscoring the spread of violent incidents across different parts of the city.
Police responded to reports of a shooting at approximately 22:20 in Kokaboom Street, where the victim was found with gunshot wounds and declared deceased at the scene by medical personnel. Authorities have confirmed that the victim was off duty at the time of the incident and not linked to any active SANDF deployment, dismissing initial speculation of any connection to military operations.
The suspect or suspects fled the scene immediately after the shooting, and no arrests have been made. Delft detectives have opened a murder case and are continuing their investigation, with authorities appealing to members of the public to come forward with any information that may assist.
The two incidents, while not believed to be linked, have again placed a spotlight on safety concerns across Cape Town, particularly in urban and residential areas where violent crime continues to impact communities.
Source: IOL – Brandon Nel – Cape {town} Etc – Staff Reporter
