A 26-year-old Bonteheuwel man, Anwar Fortune, is the latest victim killed in the continuous gang war raging in the greater Athlone area.
Mr Fortune was shot in the head on Saturday July 9 as he was boarding a taxi on the corner of Bonteheuwel Avenue and Mahogany Street. He was holding his two-year-old son, who suffered a flesh wound, when he was shot. He was allegedly a member of the Stupa Boys gang.
Bishop Lavis SAPS spokesperson, Captain Marie Louw, said no arrests had been made yet.
lThe situation in Hanover Park remains tense, as two people were killed and five people, including an eight-year-old girl, were shot and wounded on Thursday July 7, in separate incidents.
In the first incident, a 20-year-old man was shot and killed in Groenall Walk. On the same day, at 9.10am, a 27-year–old man was shot and killed in Athens Walk. During this incident, the 8-year-old girl was wounded in the crossfire and three men, aged between 32 and 40, were also wounded. A 23-year-old man was also shot and wounded close to the bus terminus in Hanover Park.
On Friday July 8, police arrested a 23-year-old man for the illegal possession of a firearm and one round of ammunition. He was due to make a court appearance on Monday July 11.
* On the same day, at 10.30am, a 26-year-old man was walking in Ferrous Road, Vanguard Estate, when he was robbed of his cellphone and R800. Two men driving a white VW Golf got out the car and searched the man. They robbed him of his possessions and fled the scene. No arrests have been made yet.
* On Thursday July 7, at 6am, Athlone SAPS was alerted to an ATM alarm, which went off at the Caltex garage in Thornton Road, Athlone. It was discovered that the side gate next to the ATM, which gives access to the toilet, was forced open. The suspects gained access from the inside toilet where they used a cutting torch to cut through the ATM’s 5mm thick metal wall.
They then cut open the money box and left with an undisclosed amount of cash. No arrests have been made yet.
* On Tuesday July 5, a 29-year-old woman was threatened by an armed man while walking down Kiewiet Street, Bridge- town, Athlone.
The unknown man cocked his firearm and threatened her, demanding that she hand over her belongings. The woman then gave the man her handbag containing her ID, cellphone and Sassa card.
The woman was not injured.