Call for increased visible policing after 7 killed in Gugulethu mass shooting

Police have asked the public for their assistance in locating two men who could shed light on Saturday’s mass killing, which left seven people dead in Gugulethu.

The Gugulethu Community Police Forum (CPF), the Western Cape Provincial Community Police Board, and the Cape Flats Safety Forum have condemned not only the weekend’s violent shooting in the Kanana informal settlement, but also the spate of violence which took place across the Cape Flats.

SAPS spokesperson Andrè Traut said that patrol officers were alerted to the shooting at around 3am on Saturday. 

“Upon arrival at the scene, officers discovered the bodies of seven men, all with gunshot wounds. Preliminary information suggests that the victims were socialising in the kitchen when they were ambushed by unknown assailants. 

“Three other men who were asleep elsewhere in the house at the time of the attack escaped unharmed. The identities of the deceased are being withheld at this stage, and the motive for the heinous crime is yet to be established,” Trout said.

The Western Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile, met with detectives from the Serious and Violent Crimes Unit on the scene on Saturday morning, where he instructed them to explore every possible lead to uncover the truth behind the killings and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.

“Violent and firearm-related crimes remain a top priority for the Western Cape SAPS, and no resource will be spared in the pursuit of justice,” said Patekile.

Patekile added that at this stage of the investigation, the motive is unknown. Police are also searching for Lungile “Fire” Anthony Madolo and Loyiso Matinisi, who they say could provide crucial information regarding the mass killing.

“While the two individuals are not considered suspects at this stage, investigators believe they may be able to shed light on the circumstances surrounding the incident,” Traut said.

Gugulethu CPF chairperson Deon Makiti said that the community is in shock and fearful, and that the community believes Madolo to be the alleged perpetrator, as he “was released just a week ago, and just over a week later, he is already committing murders, so you can imagine the frustration there”.

Patekile said Madolo was recently released from prison. He had been arrested in connection with the murder Lulama “Guffy” Dinginto who was the Gugulethu CPF deputy chairperson, in December 2023. 

Madolo was previously arrested and charged as a murder suspect in her case. According to reports, the case was struck off the roll due to the unavailability of a key witness.

“We’re trying to engage with SAPS and all the other relevant stakeholders, and trying to engage with SAPS in terms of the incredible visibility of police so that they can keep the people in the community safe, because everyone now is in panic mode.”

Makiti said that they were meeting with SAPS on Sunday, where they were hoping police would intensify the search and address increased visibility concerns. 

“It is mostly those that we are raising, as well as trying to figure out what happened, as to the whole process of getting the alleged perpetrator released previously.”

Makiti added that they are trying to ensure that when the alleged perpetrator(s) in the case are arrested, they “at least have a watertight case that will not collapse”.

Police Minister Senzo Mchunu expressed deep concern and outrage at not only Saturday’s shooting but also others which took place in the Western Cape.

The discovery of three bodies of men aged between 26 and 35, found in different but nearby locations in the C Section of the Samora Machel informal settlement, on Tuesday. A shooting incident in Nyanga during an apparent hijacking, led to the deaths of three suspected hijackers on Thursday.

“There is no doubt that the Cape Flats in Cape Town have indeed become the killing fields of the Western Cape, with the latest shooting of 7 people in Gugulethu. What the Police Ministry and Police Top Management must refuse to do, is to treat this as a normal trend and keep the normal methods of policing in place,” Mchunu said. 

“One thing that is crystal clear is that murderers are out there to kill.”

Western Cape Provincial Community Police Board spokesperson Rafique Foflonker said that they condemn the heinous acts. 

“These killings — whether gang-related or carried out by other organised criminal elements — have left families shattered, communities traumatised, and the very fabric of society under siege.

“We welcome the statement by the Minister of Police, Mr Senzo Mchunu, and support his call for intensified policing and intelligence-driven operations through the launch of Operation Shanela 2. However, what is now required is not only urgency, but unrelenting, focused, and sustained action from all levels of policing.”

theolin.tembo@inl.co.za