Five people were killed and three wounded when gunmen opened fire at a home near Steenberg in Cape Town on Saturday night, Western Cape police say.
Police said: "The incident is believed to be linked to gang violence." No arrests have been reported, and the suspects have not been identified.
What police say happened
An unknown number of gunmen entered a home in Blode Street, near Steenberg and Lavender Hill, at about 8pm and opened fire, according to police. Four men and a woman were declared dead at the scene. One man and two women were taken to hospital. The victims are aged between 21 and 33, and police say they were drinking in the home when the shooting happened. We are not naming the victims.
The police response and the wider context
Police said anti-gang unit detectives are searching for the perpetrators and that police remain on high alert in the area.
The attack comes after Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana's mini-budget set aside R823m for the South African National Defence Force to support police against gang crime and illegal mining, according to published coverage.
What we do not yet know
- Who the gunmen are and how many there were; no one has been arrested.
- The condition of the three wounded.
- The motive. Police believe it is gang-related, but this is not confirmed.
- The exact date, time and location, which differ slightly between reports.
