Police are investigating a double murder and attempted murder after three men were shot in Tafelsig.
Image: Leon Knipe
The Mitchell's Plain Community Policing Forum (CPF) has issued an urgent call for a commission of inquiry into gang-related violence, following a deadly shooting in Tafelsig that claimed the lives of two teenagers and left another critically wounded.
The shooting took place on Tuesday night on the corner of Platteklip Street and Cable Way.
According to police reports, the victims—two males aged 18 and 19—were gunned down while standing in the road.
A third person was seriously wounded and taken to hospital for treatment.
Police say a Toyota Etios drove past the group and opened fire before fleeing the scene.
The attack is believed to be gang-related.
As residents of Mitchell's Plain reel from yet another violent incident, the CPF’s call for structural interventions, accountability, and community mobilisation underscores the urgency of addressing the deep-rooted causes of gang violence.
Chairperson of the CPF, Norman Jantjies, said residents are under siege and the violence is affecting households across the suburb.
He has called for urgent collaboration between law enforcement agencies and residents to tackle the spiralling crisis.
“We as the CPF are very concerned because these shootings and killings are going on unabated, and it looks like it is the whole of Mitchell's Plain that is affected,” said Jantjies.
“We feel more needs to be done by the law enforcement agencies. We need increased visibility and profiling of all the gangsters and make sure that we have the number plate detection and cameras. We note that most shooters drive to their targets.”
Jantjies lamented the community’s reluctance to come forward as witnesses, citing fear and intimidation.
He argued that surveillance technology, such as license plate recognition and street cameras, could help close the information gap and assist police in identifying suspects.
A mass shooting in Tafelsig, Mitchells Plain has left two people dead and another taken to hospital.
Image: Leon Knipe
The CPF is also developing a long-term anti-gang strategy with stakeholders across sectors.
Jantjies emphasised that this issue must transcend political divisions and be approached as a collective community crisis.
“This impacts every household in Mitchell's Plain.
"We repeat our call that we need a commission of inquiry to look into this ongoing gang violence that we are faced with. It goes right from prevention and detection to prosecution.”
The CPF chair also expressed frustration over a pattern of cases being withdrawn in court, allowing perpetrators to escape justice.
Western Cape police spokesperson, Wesley Twigg, confirmed the details of Tuesday's shooting and said investigations are under way.
“The circumstances surrounding a shooting incident on Tuesday night on the corner of Platteklip Street and Cable Way, Tafelsig, Mitchell’s Plain, where two males aged 18 and 19 were shot and fatally wounded and another male shot and wounded, are under investigation,” Twigg said.
“Police members responded to a complaint of a shooting and upon arrival on the scene, they found the victims with gunshot wounds to their bodies. The victims were declared deceased on the scene by medical personnel, while the other victim was taken to a medical facility for medical treatment.”
Twigg confirmed that detectives are investigating two counts of murder and one of attempted murder. He added that the motive for the attack is believed to be linked to gang activity.
Police have urged anyone with information about the incident to come forward anonymously by contacting Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or using the MySAPS mobile application.
Cape Argus