Minister Marais condemns Lavender Hill mass shooting and calls for decisive action against gangs

Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Anroux Marais, has strongly condemned the suspected gang-related mass shooting in Lavender Hill on Saturday evening, in which five people were killed and three others wounded.

Minister Marais said, “No community should have to endure such senseless bloodshed or live in constant fear for their safety. We cannot allow criminals to terrorise our communities. The time for decisive, sustained action against gangs is now!”

Minister Marais called on the South African Police Service (SAPS) to intensify intelligence-driven operations against known gang groupings, target their leadership and dismantle the networks supplying them with illegal firearms and ammunition.

“SAPS must disrupt their access to firearms and ammunition, which enable them to carry out these deadly attacks. Cutting off their weapons supply is essential to preventing further bloodshed,” Minister Marais said.

Minister Marais thanked SAPS for deploying additional resources to stabilise the situation in the area and urged Anti-Gang Unit detectives to pursue every lead to ensure those responsible are arrested and successfully prosecuted.
Minister Marais said, “I thank SAPS for its additional deployment and urge investigators to work tirelessly to track down the perpetrators and build strong cases against them. I also call on the National Prosecuting Authority to pursue these cases rigorously and on our courts to impose sentences that reflect the severity of these crimes. Those convicted of such heinous acts must face the full consequences of the law. These thugs should remain behind bars for life rather than return to our communities and inflict further harm.”

Minister Marais appealed to anyone with information about the shooting or the suspects to assist the police investigation.

Media Enquiries:

Kurt Nefdt
Acting MLO to Minister Anroux Marais
0842851975
Kurt.Nefdt@westerncape.gov.za