The Mitchells Plain Safety and Development Forum (MPSDF) has condemned Wednesday night’s mass shooting in Tafelsig, describing it as a senseless act of violence and renewing its commitment to strengthening community safety initiatives.
The statement comes as Western Cape police investigate two separate mass shootings that claimed the lives of seven people and left five others injured in Tafelsig and Philippi East on Wednesday evening.
Police spokesperson Andrè Traut said three men, aged 18, 19 and 51, were shot and killed outside a tuck shop in Tafelsig, while two others were wounded. In a separate attack in Philippi East, seven people were shot, leaving four victims, aged between 17 and 20, dead and three others injured. Police are investigating both incidents, and the motive remains unknown.
The MPSDF extended its condolences to the families of those killed and wished those injured a speedy recovery. The Forum also urged residents not to speculate while police continue their investigation.
The Forum said it remains committed to implementing the Mitchells Plain Safety and Development Plan, a multi-sector strategy that brings together government, law enforcement, schools, faith-based organisations, civil society and residents to combat crime and violence.
“Every life lost to violence is one too many. Our thoughts are with the grieving families and every resident forced to relive the trauma of violent crime. While this incident is deeply distressing, it strengthens our resolve to accelerate evidence-based interventions that tackle both immediate security threats and the root causes of violence,” the Forum’s chairperson said.
The MPSDF said Tafelsig East has already been identified as a priority area for the rollout of its Safe Zones Initiative, which combines crime prevention, community mobilisation and trauma-informed support for families affected by violence.
The latest shootings have also renewed calls for stronger action to tackle the circulation of illegal firearms. Speaking to VOC News, Gun Free South Africa’s Claire Taylor said the incidents reflect the growing impact of illegal guns on communities across the Cape Flats.
“In all likelihood, the firearms used in these mass shootings were illegally possessed. This highlights the importance of recovering illegal firearms while also preventing licensed guns from leaking into the illegal market,” Taylor said.
She added that more than 24,000 civilian-owned firearms have been reported lost or stolen over the past three years, equating to an average of 22 firearms entering criminal hands every day. Taylor called for tighter firearm licensing controls and amendments to the Firearms Control Act to close loopholes that allow legally owned guns to end up in the illegal market.
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