Mass Shooting at Cape Town Tavern Leaves 8 Dead

Key Takeaways:

• Eight people died in an extortion-related mass shooting at a shebeen in Cape Town’s Marikana informal settlement.
• The shooting is believed to be linked to an extortion racket, with police urging the community to report incidents of extortion to prevent such violence.
• Western Cape police commissioner Lt-Gen Thembisile Patekile has called on the community to work with the police to dismantle extortion rackets and prevent further violence.
• A separate shooting incident occurred in Crossroads, where former Cape Town athlete Bulelwa Mtshagi was shot seven times and her son and nephew were also injured.
• Police are following up on leads in both cases and have urged the community to come forward with information.

Introduction to the Incident
The early hours of Saturday saw a devastating mass shooting at a shebeen in Cape Town’s Marikana informal settlement, resulting in the deaths of eight people. Western Cape police commissioner Lt-Gen Thembisile Patekile and his top management visited the area, which has a history of violence, including the deaths of 11 people in 2017. Patekile confirmed that six people died at the scene, one died in an ambulance, and another later died in hospital. The motive behind the shooting is believed to be extortion, with Patekile stating that groups of extortionists have been demanding money for protection in the area.

The Extortion Racket
Patekile emphasized the need for the community to report incidents of extortion, stating that many of these incidents could be prevented if people came forward with information. He urged the community to use the police’s toll-free number to report any incidents of extortion, and to work with the police to dismantle the extortion rackets. Patekile also confirmed that the police have bolstered their deployment in the area and are continuing with intelligence collection teams to gather more information. However, he stressed that the police depend heavily on community reporting to prevent such incidents.

Community Reaction
Resident and former community leader Siphiwo Tofile, who lives in the area, described the incident as not new to the community. He stated that the area has long been volatile, with his wife and children too afraid to live there due to the frequent incidents of violence. Tofile expressed concern that criminals often end up killing innocent people, and that the community is worried about the ongoing violence. He also mentioned that the owner of the shebeen, where he usually plays pool and watches television, was shot and later died.

Separate Shooting Incident
In a separate incident, former Cape Town athlete Bulelwa Mtshagi was shot seven times at her home in Crossroads on Friday. Her 24-year-old son was also shot in the leg, while her nephew sustained multiple gunshot wounds. A family member, who wished to remain anonymous, stated that a friend of Mtshagi’s son was killed during the shooting. The family is living in fear, and police are following up on leads to determine the motive behind the shooting. Patekile confirmed the incident and urged the community to come forward with any information that may lead to the arrest of the perpetrators.

Police Response
Patekile has called on the community to work with the police to prevent further violence and to dismantle the extortion rackets. He emphasized the importance of community reporting and urged people to use the police’s toll-free number to report any incidents of extortion. The police have increased their presence in the area and are working to gather more information to bring the perpetrators to justice. The community is urged to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity to the police.

Conclusion
The mass shooting at the shebeen in Marikana and the separate shooting incident in Crossroads have highlighted the need for the community to work with the police to prevent violence and extortion. The police have urged the community to report incidents of extortion and to come forward with any information that may lead to the arrest of the perpetrators. By working together, the community and the police can prevent further violence and create a safer environment for everyone.