Man dies in shooting, woman, baby wounded
Police are investigating after a 31-year-old Hanover Park man died and his girlfriend and baby daughter were wounded when gunmen opened fire on their car from a passing vehicle in Lansdowne.
The shooting happened on the corner of Jan Smuts Drive and Turfhall Road, at about 9.30pm, on Wednesday April 13, police say.
The 25-year-old woman was shot in her leg and stomach and her 1-year-old baby was shot in her right leg.
Police recovered 20 bullet casings from the scene and the shooters are still at large, according to Lansdowne police spokesman Sergeant Nkululeko Mnyaka.
The woman had told police that the shooters had been driving in a red Corsa, he said.
“A case of murder and attempted murder were opened for investigation.”
Lansdowne Community Police Forum chairman Rafique Foflonker described the shooting as brazen and heinous.
“The community is very upset because initially they thought the baby died. We have no idea what leads police have. Residents assumed it was a hijacking or robbery gone wrong. In acts like these, the innocent get hurt and killed,” he said.
Mr Foflonker urged the community to report crime. “We must also not ignore crime when it occurs at our neighbour’s home or in a neighbouring community. What happens there may eventually end up right in front of us. The Lansdowne policing precinct will host a crime imbizo in the coming weeks for the entire community serviced by Lansdowne SAPS. We urge you to attend to make your voice heard.”
Belthorn Neighbourhood Watch chairman Khalid Choglé said the shooting did not appear to be a “random act of violence”.
He said the endless turf wars between rival gangs were a constant threat, and people felt like they had to fend for themselves due to poorly resourced police stations.
Neighbourhood watches could only do as much as their limited resources and volunteers allowed, he added, encouraging residents to get involved in keeping their communities safe.