BABY SHOT AT SHEBEEN

A 10-MONTH-OLD baby survived a shebeen shooting in Nyanga, according to the local Community Policing Forum (CPF).

Nyanga CPF secretary-general, Dumisani Qwebe, told the media the attack may have been linked to a robbery at the tavern on Monday night.

A 47-year-old man was shot dead and four others, including the tot, were wounded during the shooting at the Siyahlala informal settlement in Nyanga.

Qwebe said: “They shot five people, and the owner of the shebeen was shot in the head and passed away. A 10-month-old baby was also wounded.

“We condemn these incidents and have planned to meet with shebeen owners to prevent such tragedies in the future.”

Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed that Nyanga detectives are investigating one count of murder and four counts of attempted murder.

Twigg reported: “Police members responded to a complaint of a shooting and found five victims with gunshot wounds. The 47-year-old was declared deceased on the scene. The other victims, aged between 30 and 40, were transported to a medical facility.

“According to reports, unknown suspects entered the premises looking for someone and opened fire before fleeing. They are yet to be arrested.”

Democratic Alliance Western Cape spokesperson on Police Oversight and Community Safety, Thomas Walters, said the killings highlight the chronic under-resourcing of police stations in the province.

Walters said: “The DA in the Western Cape is deeply concerned by the insufficient staffing and resourcing of our police stations, which ultimately hampers their ability to protect our citizens and uphold the law.

“We will once again demand a clear, detailed action plan from SAPS to deal with violent crime in the Western Cape.

“This plan must outline how additional resources will be allocated to combat crime in our province, with clear timelines for implementation.

"Once received, I will invite SAPS to present it to the Standing Committee on Police Oversight and Community Safety so that it may be interrogated and scrutinised by the representatives of the people of the Western Cape.

“It is time for decisive action, and for SAPS to deliver the resources and strategies needed to bring an end to this reign of terror.”

Police are urging anyone with relevant information on the shooting incident to please contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the MySAPS mobile application anonymously.