Two female police officers were fatally shot in separate incidents over the weekend, along with four others in a spate of violence to take over Cape Town.
Image: File
Police in the Western Cape is mourning the murder of two female members who were fatally shot in separate incidents over the weekend, along with four others in a spate of violence to take over Cape Town.
In the first incident involving a SAPS member on Saturday morning, the body of the 31-year-old off-duty constable stationed at the Bishop Lavis Police Station was discovered in her car in Langa.
Police spokesperson, Novela Potelwa, said the Hawks is investigating the case.
“The 31-year-old female constable who was attached to Bishop Lavis SAPS, was discovered in her vehicle close to a primary school in Bennie Street with gunshot wounds.
"When she left her home in Kraaifontein on [Friday] night after knocking off duty, she was heading to an evening church service in Langa.
"Directorate for Priority Crime (Hawks) detectives have initiated a murder investigation with no arrests effected yet,” said Potelwa.
A 31-year-old female constable who was attached to Bishop Lavis SAPS was discovered dead in her vehicle.
Image: Leon Knipe
Sub-council chairperson, Angus Mckenzie, conveyed his condolences to the victim's family.
"The officer, a well-liked and respected member of SAPS was off duty at the time and was found in the vehicle [Saturday] morning.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and her colleagues and the great policing family. The killing of any officer is tantamount to terrorism and such actions require nothing less than the full might of the law brought against the perpetrators,” said Mckenzie.
Later on Saturday, social media users reacted with shock to footage of two women shot in a parking lot next to the Gatesville Mosque in Athlone, allegedly with a baby in the car.
The video depicted one woman deceased outside a white VW Polo with the back door of the car open, and the other woman lying nearby as bystanders looked on.
A woman is seen opening the boot of the car, taking out what a appears to be a baby blanket, which she used to cover the deceased woman.
A 35-year-old female administrative clerk gunned down in Gatesville.
Image: Leon Knipe
Police spokesperson, Malcolm Pojie, confirmed the deceased woman was a 35-year-old administrative clerk at the Kraaifontein SAPS, and a 56-year-old woman was also wounded in the shooting and taken to a medical facility for treatment.
“Athlone police subsequently registered a murder and attempted murder case which will be probed by detectives attached to the Anti-Gang Unit.
"Preliminary information suggests that two armed men accosted the deceased as she and the injured woman alighted the vehicle they were travelling in," Pojie said.
Separately, four people were killed in shootings and innocent bystanders, including an 8-year-old girl, were wounded across the Cape Flats.
Pojie said Philippi police registered a murder and two attempted murder cases following a shooting on Friday at Agulhas Court in Hanover Park.
"Members were summoned to a hospital in Heideveld where the body of a 33-year-old deceased man was pointed out by medical personnel. He sustained a gunshot wound to the chest.
"Members also found an 8-year-old girl and an adult male who were admitted with gunshot wounds which they sustained as innocent bystanders. Their condition were described as stable.
"The suspects are unknown and yet to be arrested.”
This as the community of Clarke Estate, Elsies River, are fearing gang retaliation after three people were killing in shootings on Thursday evening.
The three died of gunshot wounds to the head and Pojie confirmed the motive for the attack is regarded as gang-related.
“Elsies River SAPS registered three counts of murder and one of attempted murder following the death of three men between the ages 17 and 40 and injury to a 21-year-old man during a shooting incident which occurred in Flack Road, Clarke Estate, Elsies River on Thursday, at about 8:45pm.
"Detectives attached to the Anti-Gang Unit are probing the circumstances surrounding this incident.”
A community activist said: “It is possible that [those who were shot and killed] was en route to do a killing as well. One of the deceased was Muslim, it was his funeral on [Saturday]. His body was carried down the road and Terrible gangsters were following openly with guns claiming his blood will be avenged."
Abie Isaacs from the Cape Flats Safety Forum adds: “We call for the urgent establishment of special probe into gun violence that has been prevalent in and around the Cape Flats.”
Police are appealing to anyone with information regarding the incidents to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or MySAPS mobile application, anonymously.
Cape Argus