A 30-year-old man cycling home from the shop was shot dead in Lotus River on Sunday night, less than an hour after three men were gunned down in Grassy Park, bringing the death toll across the two communities to four.
Aliem Brown's killing in 7th Avenue has added to fears of further violence in the area, with family and community members saying he had no gang ties.
The bloodshed has left residents fearing retaliatory gang attacks, with one parent describing how they threw their children to the floor as gunfire erupted.
Gunmen open fire
Gunmen in a white Toyota Tazz pulled up outside a property in Glen Close, Grassy Park, around 8.15pm and sprayed bullets at a group of men sitting outside.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel FC van Wyk confirmed that Anti-Gang Unit detectives are investigating three counts of murder and one of attempted murder.
“According to reports, a white Toyota Tazz stopped in front of a premises in Glen Close, Grassy Park, where four males, aged between 22 and 39, were seated. The occupants of the vehicle opened fire on the victims before fleeing the scene. Three victims were declared deceased on the scene by medical personnel, while the fourth was transported to a medical facility for treatment,” Van Wyk said.
The deadly attack has left local residents terrified of retaliatory gang warfare.
A resident, who asked not to be named for fear of their safety, said the shooting happened while preparing their children's clothes for school.
“It all happened so fast. I panicked so much I threw my children to the ground because I didn’t know where it was coming from,” the resident recalled. “I hope this does not lead to a war. Our children need to go to school, and they are writing exams. Have these gangs not terrorised us enough?”
Lotus River murder
Less than an hour later, tragedy struck again nearby. At 9.10pm, 30-year-old Aliem Brown was gunned down in 7th Avenue, Lotus River. Family and community members say he had no gang ties and was simply cycling home from the shop when attackers struck.
Van Wyk confirmed that Grassy Park police have opened a separate murder docket, though police have not yet commented on a motive or confirmed whether Brown was an innocent bystander.
The bloodshed has sparked renewed anger over Cape Flats gang terror and weak prosecution rates.
DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Police Oversight and Community Safety, Benedicta van Minnen, highlighted the dismal 5.5% conviction rate for illegal firearm possession, demanding intelligence-led policing and properly resourced investigations.
“The escalating violence across Cape Town has reached a point where outrage is no longer enough. Communities are living in fear, innocent people are being gunned down in public spaces, children are being caught in the crossfire, and families are being left to bury their loved ones,” Van Minnen said.
“A mother should not have to wonder whether her child will return home safely. Commuters should not fear being caught in a hail of bullets at a taxi rank. No community should have to accept gunfire as part of everyday life. We cannot continue mourning the dead while the system meant to protect the living fails to deliver justice.”