A Lotus River mass shooting early this morning left five people dead on the corner of Buck Road and 5th Avenue, opposite the Astron fuel station in Cape Town.
Five killed in Lotus River mass shooting
According to police, one victim died at the scene, while the others sustained critical injuries and later died in hospital. The attack is the latest in a string of shootings in the area this week, although investigators have not confirmed whether the incidents are directly connected.
On Monday morning, a 29-year-old man was shot dead in Eland Avenue, and on Wednesday evening, another man was gunned down in 1st Avenue. Both men died on the scene.
Police believe these shootings are linked to ongoing gang activity, but no arrests have been made.
In a separate incident, four men were killed in the early hours of Wednesday morning in Overcome Heights, a neighbourhood in Muizenberg.
According to Western Cape police spokesperson Colonel André Traut, the bodies of the men, aged between 20 and 37, were found on Mountain Road at around 05:30. All had suffered fatal gunshot wounds.
The Anti-Gang Unit, a specialised police team that deals with gang-related crime, has been assigned to investigate. Colonel Traut said detectives are working to piece together the events that led to the killings.
“This investigation is a priority,” Traut said, adding that all possible leads are being explored.
Overcome Heights has seen repeated violent incidents in recent months.
In March 2025 alone:
- On 29 March, two men were killed and three others injured in a shooting.
- On 25 March, a 21-year-old man died and four others were wounded in another suspected gang attack.
Police have previously suggested these attacks may be tied to long-running disputes between gangs and tensions in the local taxi industry.
In response, authorities deployed the Anti-Gang Unit and other law enforcement teams to increase patrols and conduct targeted operations in high-risk areas. Despite these measures, shootings have continued.