KEY POINTS
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A police administrative clerk was killed and another woman injured in a suspected gang-linked shooting near Athlone’s Gatesville Mosque, prompting an Anti-Gang Unit investigation.
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Community leaders and residents are demanding urgent action amid rising gang violence, citing a 15% increase in related homicides in the Western Cape.
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The incident highlights broader regional security challenges, following recent shootings in Nairobi and Howick, with calls for holistic strategies to address crime’s root causes.
A 35-year-old woman was fatally shot, and a 56-year-old woman injured, outside the Gatesville Mosque in Athlone, Cape Town, on Saturday afternoon.
The deceased, an administrative clerk at the Kraaifontein police station, and her companion were ambushed by two armed men as they exited their vehicle in the parking lot of the mosque.
Sowetanlive reports that the injured victim was rushed to a nearby hospital and remains in stable condition.
Police spokesperson Lt-Col Malcolm Pojie confirmed the incident, stating, “Preliminary evidence indicates this was a targeted attack. The suspects fled the scene, and we are pursuing all leads.” Authorities have opened murder and attempted murder cases, with the investigation handed to the Provincial Anti-Gang Unit due to potential links to organized crime networks.
Community leaders decry surge in violence after Mosque incident
The shooting has intensified concerns over escalating gang activity in Athlone, a region long plagued by turf wars and drug-related violence.
Local leaders and residents gathered outside the mosque on Sunday, demanding urgent intervention. “Our community is under siege. Innocent lives are lost while gangs operate with impunity,” said Zahra Patel, a member of the Athlone Safety Forum.
Recent crime statistics reveal a 15% year-on-year increase in gang-related homicides in the Western Cape, with Athlone contributing significantly to these figures.
Imam Abdul Karim of the Gatesville Mosque condemned the violence, emphasizing, “Places of worship should be sanctuaries, not bloodstained battlegrounds.” The mosque has increased security measures and is collaborating with police to safeguard congregants.
The attack follows a spate of high-profile shootings, including the killing of Kenyan lawmaker Charles Were in Nairobi and a taxi driver in Howick earlier this week. National police commissioner Gen. Fannie Masemola has vowed to deploy additional resources to hotspot areas, but community activists argue systemic issues like unemployment and poor social services fuel the cycle of violence.
Authorities urge anyone with information to contact Crime Stop anonymously. Funeral arrangements for the slain woman are pending, with her colleagues at the Kraaifontein police station describing her as a “dedicated and beloved team member.”
