Shots have been ringing out from the Kewtown area since the early hours of this morning. Athlone police are patrolling the streets in search of the shooters, but their efforts have so far hit a dead end, with residents afraid to point out the culprits.
Athlone police station’s spokesperson, Sergeant Zita Norman, confirmed that the shooting was gang-related and that police were patrolling the streets of Kewtown. At the time of publication no injuries or fatalities had been recorded.
“Currently shooting is taking place in Kewtown (and) patrol vans are patrolling the area, but the community is not divulging who the shooters are,” Sergeant Norman said.
A Kewtown resident, whose identity is known to Athlone News but who spoke on condition of anonymity, said tensions had been high in the area over the past week but had “finally boiled over”.
“The shooting started earlier in the week already, nobody was shot or injured, but from there, you just knew,” the resident said.
He said he had heard shots being fired from early this morning. Residents in nearby Gleemoor also reported hearing rapid gunfire late last night and from around 4am today.
Sergeant Norman called on the community to co-operate with police to put an end to the shooting.
“The main aim of SAPS is to get illegal guns off the streets and (residents can report) anonymously to create safer communities,” Sergeant Norman said.
She added that the community could help police break the cycle of gangsterism in Kewtown.
“Community members must take into consideration that it is a time of goodwill and festivities and that the youth are on holiday. They must assist SAPS to create safer communities by reporting the shooters so that our youth are protected and not falling into the cycle of dysfunction and gangsterism as a way of life,” Sergeant Norman said.
“Together we can do more report to put a stop to gang violence.”
To report crime, call Athlone SAPS on 021 6979238/39 or 10111. Information will be treated as confidential and you can remain anonymous.
