Residents from Khayelitsha in Harare area is shocked following the shooting of six people in their area on Wednesday morning.
The bodies of four men and one woman were found on Ncumo Street in Harare following a shooting incident around 6am today. Another body of a man was found not far away from where five other bodies were found.
It is not clear what led to the killings but residents who spoke to Ezitshisayo said they are living in fear. “There has been shooting in our areas, but this one is shocking. Six people just killed in a space of a few minutes, it is scary to us,” residents said.
Some residents suspect that the killing could be linked to fights amongst protection fee gangs. “They collect money on the 15th so these killings are common around this time of the month or during month end. We are all guessing but at this point we don’t know the cause of these killings. We all must wait and hear it from cops, but we are scared as residents. If people can get killed like this on our streets, we are definitely not safe,” said the resident.
Police in Cape Town said they are investigating murder cases. Spokesman of police Colonel Andre Traut said confirmed that the bodies of four males and a female were found on Ncumo Street in Harare.
“The circumstances that led to the death of five people in Harare in Khayelitsha this morning is being probed by detectives from the Provincial Serious and Violent Crimes unit. At around 06:00 police were summoned to a shooting incident in Ncumu Street where the bodies of four males and one female were discovered with gunshot wounds.
“The identities of the victim are yet to be determined. We have reason to believe that the death of the five people can be linked to an incident during the early hours of the morning where another male was shot and killed in the same vicinity.
“The motive for the attack on the victims is not yet known and an appeal for public assistance is made. Any person with information is kindly requested to contact Colonel Mthetho Maxabaniso on 082 339 7320 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111. The mobile application MySAPS can also be used anonymously,” said Traut.