TWO SHOT DEAD IN LAVENDER HILL

Lavender Hill mense were left geskok after another two shootings left two dead on Monday in two separate incidents.

Both incidents are believed to be gang-related.

Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk reported that a 27-year-old male was found doodgeskiet on the pavement in front of a premises in Grindle Avenue.

Van Wyk says: “According to reports police members on duty attended to a shooting incident at the mentioned address. On arrival they found the deceased laying on the pavement with a gunshot wound to the head.”

He added that circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation and the man was declared deceased on the scene by medical personnel.

Steenberg police station registered a murder case following the incident.

Meanwhile, at the back of a premises in Elister Road at around 6am, cops found the body of a 20-year-old male with two gunshot wounds to the chest.

Van Wyk says: "Circumstances surrounding this incident are under investigation. He was declared deceased on the scene by medical personnel."

Steenberg Community Policing Forum (CPF) chairperson Nicola Small told the Daily Voice that she is not able to discuss the circumstances around the recent surge in gang violence.

Small did however confirm that the police have made meaningful progress in recent weeks towards stabilising the Lavender Hill area.

She adds: “Following the recent surge in gang-related violence that began on Monday morning, the CPF Executive Committee met with SAPS yesterday and has been reassured of their ongoing commitment to restoring calm and safety through various SAPS led initiatives.

“​​Silence protects a few at the expense of many - and we cannot allow that. This community deserves peace, and it is only through collective action that we will achieve it.

“We ask the community to please contact Steenberg SAPS on 021 702 9000 or Crime Stop 08600 10111 with any information related to these incidents.”

Meanwhile, Western Cape MEC for Police Oversight and Community Safety Anroux Marais said ongoing understaffing at police stations is reducing policing capacity, particularly in areas affected by gang violence.

Criminals continuously adapt to evade law enforcement, requiring new strategies to improve crime prevention, she said.