Police have launched a manhunt after seven men, aged between 20 and 30, were brutally shot dead in Philippi East in the Western Cape.
Detectives from the Provincial Serious and Violent Crimes Unit are pursuing all available leads to identify and apprehend those responsible.
Western Cape police management has condemned the killings as senseless and confirmed the case has been prioritised to ensure swift justice.
VIOLENCE IN WESTERN CAPE
Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant-General Advocate Thembisile Patekile expressed concern about the level of violence in the province.
“Community cooperation is crucial in bringing those responsible to book and restoring safety to our neighbourhoods,” said Patekile.
He also appealed to residents to assist police by sharing any information that could aid the investigation. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the MySAPS mobile app. Information will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.
PLANS TO CURB GANGSTERISM
The incident highlighted the persistent issue of gang violence in the Western Cape. In a recent briefing to the Select Committee on Security and Justice, acting Minister of Police Prof Firoz Cachalia and Patekile outlined a strategy to combat gangsterism and extortion in the province. The plan focuses on integrated crime intelligence and data analysis, shifting from reactive arrests to long-term disruption of organised crime networks.
The committee also heard that gang-related violence in the province is fuelled by territorial disputes and competition over drug smuggling routes, urban distribution networks, and extortion markets. These are factors that continue to drive gun-related killings.
