Police have urged witnesses to come forward after a teenager was killed and a 5-year-old wounded in a Manenberg shooting.
Shots fired from a car that stopped in Seine Road, a couple of meters from the library, on Saturday February 4, at 10am, hit a 17-year-old boy in the chest and Devonte Terry, 5, in the forehead above his left eye, according to Manenberg police spokesman Captain Ian Bennett.
The teen died at the scene. Devonte is in a stable condition at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital.
Police are investigating a case of murder and one of attempted murder, but the shooters remain at large.
“There has been a rival gang war over drug turf as well as in fighting in the gangs. People have many conflicting stories about what happened, but no one has come forward with information about the shooters,” said Captain Bennett.
“This is really traumatising our communities, and holding them hostage. People must speak out against it so that something can be done. This child will have to go for counselling and will live with this trauma for the rest of his life.”
Manenberg Community Police Forum spokesman Pedro Visagie said the community was angry and felt too little was being done to curb violence in the area.
“Residents can describe the incident that took place but can’t pinpoint who the shooters were; they are also afraid of victimisation. There has been a lot of fighting over members joining opposing gangs; the violence moves from area to area. The reason it is so difficult to find the shooters is because gang members are sent from other areas to come in and shoot and kill here.”
Pastor Craven Engel, founder of the Ceasefire Cure Violence project in Hanover Park, said programmes were needed to help shooting victims and their families recover as many victims received no counselling and lived with the trauma for the rest of their lives.
“The community is angry and needs to heal from this. This child’s education will be affected, his life is now on hold. Going forward, it will be difficult, but healing can happen,“ he said.
Anyone with information can call Crime Stop at 08600 10111.