Athlone tense after killings
Three men were slain in gang-related shootings and a 66-year-old woman was beaten to death in her home in the greater Athlone area over the space of three days.
Police found the body of a 46-year-old man with a gunshot wound to his head in Brandon Street, Hazendal, on Saturday, at 4.15pm.
The victim was a known member of the Americans gang and police suspect his killing is linked to ongoing conflict between the Americans and the Junior Cisco Yakkies (JCY) gangs, says Athlone police spokesperson Sergeant Zita Norman.
Police are looking for three men who are known to them in connection with the shooting.
Two men, aged 35 and 32, were found dead in a stationary red VW Jetta in Duiker Street, Bridgetown, on Thursday April 25, at 10.15pm, in a gang-related shooting, said Sergeant Norman.
The 35-year-old died from a gunshot to the head and the 32-year-old from a gunshot to the face. Also in the car was a 40-year-old woman with a gunshot wound to the face while a 32-year-old man, who had been shot several times in the back, was found lying on the pavement. The wounded man and woman were both hospitalised.
“Anyone with information must please come forward. We have no suspects arrested yet,” said Sergeant Norman. “Gang violence has escalated in all of the areas. The scourge of gangsterism and unlawfulness is happening in all areas. All of our police stations are facing the same challenge.”
Athlone Community Police Forum chairwoman Sharon Classen said there was a high level of gang violence in the area.
“Shooting has been absolutely crazy... The community is very tense,” she said.
Meanwhile, police suspect robbery was the motive for the killing of Sultana Ulde, of Rylands. Her son found her body after 4pm on Friday April 26.
Sergeant Norman said her house on the corner of Repulse and Johnston roads had been ransacked.
Rylands Neighbourhood Watch chairman Naweed Mohammed said the killing had shocked the community as Ms Ulde was well-known for the tyre company she had run from her home.
“It is difficult to say what happened. There’s too many variables here. It seems like it was a robbery, but why did they do to her what they did? The community must remain vigilant,” he said.
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