A 14-year-old boy, Owen Ockhuis, is in critical condition after being shot in Valhalla Park, Cape Town, on Tuesday night.
Story Summary:
- A 14-year-old boy, Owen Ockhuis, is in critical condition after being shot in Valhalla Park, Cape Town, on Tuesday night.
- This incident is part of a worrying increase in gang-related violence in the area, with community members calling for more police intervention.
Valhalla Park shooting: Here’s everything we know
The incident, which took place around 22:00, has heightened tensions in a community already grappling with ongoing violence.
Owen was outside his friend’s home when gunmen opened fire from a car, striking him in the chest, upper arm, and foot. His friend managed to escape unharmed.
According to reports, his mother, Fiona Ockhuis, rushed to the hospital after hearing about the shooting and is now praying for her son’s recovery.
“I didn’t think for a moment that my son would be the victim,” she explained.
Doctors have reassured the family that Owen is expected to make a full recovery, but the emotional toll remains heavy.
Fiona, who has faced this trauma before, shared that her eldest son was also shot in a gang-related incident 12 years ago, barely escaping paralysis.
This recent incident is just one of several shootings that have rocked Valhalla Park in recent months.
The area has been caught in the crossfire of ongoing gang violence, with innocent residents often finding themselves in the line of fire.
Fiona Ockhuis, while grateful for police efforts, believes more must be done to protect the community.
“I see the difference police are making, but it’s not enough,” she said, urging for greater police presence and action.
Over the past few months, violence in Valhalla Park and nearby Kalksteenfontein has escalated.
Gang-related shootings have become more frequent, leaving the community in fear for their lives.
Many residents have called for stronger intervention from authorities as gangs continue to wage war in the area, placing young people like Owen in constant danger.
Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Malcolm Pojie confirmed the incident and appealed to the public for information, urging anyone who can assist to contact Crime Stop or use the MySAPS mobile application.