Developing story: no arrests have been made and police have not confirmed the motive.
Two women, aged 27 and 39, were shot dead in a shack in the Marikana informal settlement in Philippi East, Cape Town, in an attack police say is believed to be extortion-related.
Both women had gunshot wounds to the head, according to reports, and were declared dead at the scene. Police have opened two counts of murder. No arrests have been made.
What police say
Philippi East police spokesperson Constable Ndakhe Gwala said: "The motive for the shooting is believed to be extortion-related." Investigators have not confirmed the motive.
Extortion in the area
Ward councillor Mboniswa Chitha said extortion affects all of Ward 35, not only Marikana, and that extortionists keep operating despite a visible police presence. A community leader, who was not named, said criminals demand what they call "protection fees" and that extortion happens almost daily.
Reports link the killings to extortion networks that pressure residents and small business owners in Philippi East and other informal settlements in the Western Cape. They also recall a January 2026 shooting in Philippi East in which eight people were killed, which police believe was also extortion-related.
What we do not yet know
- Who carried out the shooting, and whether suspects have been identified.
- The motive, which police describe as believed, not confirmed.
- When exactly it happened. Reports give Monday 9 November or Tuesday 10 November.
