A nine-month-old child was among three people killed in a shooting in the Cape Town suburb of Athlone on Tuesday night, police confirmed.
The other fatalities were two women aged 25 and 36. Two men were also wounded and taken to hospital for treatment. Authorities said preliminary information indicates that three suspects were involved. The motive remains under investigation, with detectives from the Serious and Violent Crimes Unit leading the case.
Western Cape police said violent crime would not be tolerated and pledged to pursue those responsible.
The incident comes as the government prepares to deploy the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to assist in combating gang violence and other serious crimes in high-risk areas.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the plan last week, stating that crime undermines public safety, economic stability and investor confidence.
Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia said the South African Police Service and the SANDF had met to finalise an operational strategy expected to be implemented within 10 days. He added that a coordinated approach involving multiple agencies would be used to disrupt the financial and logistical structures of criminal networks.
Source: Western Cape Police statement and government briefings.
Image: file
