A 29-year-old man was fatally shot in Philippi, Cape Town, on Thursday evening, according to Western Cape police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg. Twigg reported that the incident occurred at the intersection of Schaap Road and Middle Avenue.
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Upon responding to a shooting complaint, officers found the victim with a gunshot wound to his chest.
‘The victim was pronounced dead at the scene by medical personnel,’ Twigg stated.
He also mentioned that the possibility of gang involvement in the incident would be investigated, as the suspects fled the scene and remain at large.
Residents of Philippi attributed the murder to gang violence. Jamiela Daniels (35) expressed disappointment in the lack of positive outcomes following Police Minister Bheki Cele’s recent visit to Hanover Park. ‘I had hoped for a reduction in crime in the Cape Flats after Minister Cele’s visit, but unfortunately, things have only worsened,’ she remarked.
Daniels expressed frustration at the lack of increased police presence in Philippi, Nyanga, Hanover Park, Gugulethu, Khayelitsha, and other high-crime areas. ‘As a resident of Philippi, I feel neglected because our pleas have been ignored for years. I feel like our lives are undervalued,’ she lamented. Daniels also voiced concerns for her and her two children’s safety.
Similarly, Yasmin Barnes shared apprehensions about her safety, feeling confined due to restricted movements. Recalling her childhood spent playing in the streets, Barnes lamented that her children couldn’t experience the same freedom due to crime.
‘My children miss out on playing with other kids in the streets. They’re always indoors, watching TV or playing with my phone because I’m uneasy about letting them play outside,’ she explained.
Barnes advocated for the government to consider implementing the death penalty, highlighting the impunity with which criminals act, contrasting it with the struggles of university students who cannot obtain their certificates due to unpaid fees. Despite supporting rehabilitation and second chances, Barnes emphasised the need for fair administration.
Kashiefa Mohammed, spokesperson for the Philippi Community Policing Forum (CPF), highlighted the pervasive fear among residents due to rampant gang violence. ‘People are dying like flies in Philippi, and this is terrifying for residents,’ she expressed concern. Mohammed noted that despite being part of household family structures, gangsters perpetuate violence, leaving children to grow up with anger. ‘We aim to eradicate gangsterism in the Cape Flats,’ she emphasised.
Mohammed lamented the lack of progress in combating crime, stating that the CPF felt it was regressing. Despite their commitment to collaboration with the police, Mohammed indicated frustration, as the community continues to wake up to more bodies, suggesting little headway in their efforts.
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Picture: Roger Sedres / Gallo Images