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We’re watching Cape Town’s murder and gun-related crime stats skyrocket after one weekend.

The South African Police in the Mother City had their hands full on Saturday as several shooting incidents resulted in the death of seven people in different areas across the city.

Shockingly but not so surprisingly, IOL reports that on January 13, a total of seven murders and 12 attempted murders were recorded by police.

A woman was gunned down in Bethel Street just after 7PM in Wesbank, with the motive for the shooting being gang-related, according to police.

“Mfuleni police are investigating a murder case following a shooting incident on January 13, at 7.25pm in Bethel Street, Wesbank, where an adult female was shot and fatally wounded,” police spokesperson, Captain Frederick van Wyk said.

“Circumstances surrounding this shooting incident are under investigation. The deceased was shot in the neck and died on the scene The suspects fled the scene and they are yet to be arrested. The motive is gang-related.”

Prepare yourself, because you’ll be hearing a lot about no suspects being arrested in any of these bloody cases.

Less than 30 minutes after that shooting, police in Khayelitsha responded to a mass shooting in Albertina Sisulu Drive in Makhaya. Four men, aged between 30 and 40, were gunned down by unknown suspects, who fled the scene and are being pursued by police. Two other men were also injured at the time and are being treated in hospital while the police try and figure out the motive for the murders.

Then, later that evening at 10.45PM seven people were shot in Hanover Park in Johndown Walk. Van Wyk said Philippi police were investigating a double murder and five counts of attempted murder.

“Two males, aged 19 and 41, were shot and fatally wounded and five others, aged between 18 and 44, shot and injured. The injured victims were taken to a nearby medical facility for treatment. The suspects fled the scene and they are yet to be arrested. The motive is gang-related,” Van Wyk said.

In the Mitchells Plain parts, a shooting incident took place in Wemmershoek Street in Tafelsig. The police are investigating five counts of attempted murder for that one. While the victims heal in hospital, the police said the motive for the shooting incident is under investigation and the suspects who fled the scene are yet to be arrested.

Sadly, we can’t exactly say there was something strange in the air over the weekend, because this ultimately happens far too often in Cape Town.

[source:iol]