Two men have been killed in separate shootings in the Vygieskraal area of Athlone, Cape Town, as concerns grow over ongoing gang violence in the Western Cape.
Athlone shootings: Here’s what we know
The first incident happened early Thursday morning on Pearl Street. A 38-year-old man was found dead with a gunshot wound to the face. Police confirmed that he died on the scene. Just one hour later, another man, aged 51, was shot and killed in nearby Violet Crescent.
Police suspect both killings are linked to gang activity. This part of Athlone has long struggled with gang-related violence, where criminals fight over territory, drug trade routes, and other illegal activities.
When shootings happen close together like this, it often signals ongoing conflict between rival groups.
Authorities have not confirmed the names of the victims, and investigations are ongoing. No arrests had been made at the time this article was written.
Meanwhile, a separate shooting incident occurred just before midnight at the Kleinvlei police station in Eerste River, also in Cape Town. Unknown attackers opened fire on the police station from a charcoal-coloured Volkswagen Polo.
Fortunately, no one was injured, but the building sustained some structural damage.
Kleinvlei has seen extreme levels of violence in recent years. In 2024 alone, police recorded 123 murders in the area. Many of these killings are believed to be linked to gang activity.
Police have not connected the Kleinvlei incident to the Athlone shootings, but the violence follows a pattern seen in other parts of the city, where gangs target both rivals and sometimes even law enforcement.
The latest deaths come a day after businessman Johann Rupert, during a high-level meeting at the White House, pointed to high crime rates in the Western Cape as part of a broader discussion on violence in South Africa.
He mentioned the Cape Flats specifically, noting that gang-related killings affect communities across all racial groups, not just Afrikaners.
Police have urged anyone with information about the Athlone or Kleinvlei incidents to come forward.
