Gugs pleads for safety as exams approach

FOLLOWING three gun murders in Gugulethu at weekend, a group of religious leaders picketed outside the local police station on Saturday, pleading for safety and an end to ongoing violence in the area.

On Thursday, four security officers were shot: one was killed, while three others were wounded and rushed to hospital. Minutes later, a salon owner was killed near this scene.

On Friday evening, there was a double murder in Lotus informal settlement.

This brings the total number of reported murders in the township to 10 over the past two weeks.

The group marched handed over a memorandum to the police, calling for urgent measures to curb gun violence and prevent gender-based violence (GBV).

Western Cape police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed the shooting incidents

“Gugulethu police registered two counts of murder for investigation following a shooting incident on Friday evening, 10 October, at about 6pm, in the Lotus informal settlement. Upon arrival on the scene, police members found two males aged 23 and 29 who sustained gunshot wounds to their bodies. Both victims were declared deceased on the scene by medical personnel. The circumstances and the motive for the attack form part of the police investigation, and arrests are yet to be made. Anyone with any information about this incident can contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the mobile application MySAPS anonymously.” 

Bishop Zamuxolo Mfihlo said the community was deeply concerned about the rise in violent crime.

“Our concern is about the crime that is happening in Gugulethu. We know that our children are about to write their final examinations, and we are fearful. A few days ago, young boys were fighting at a high school, and that is concerning because it seems like crime here is getting out of hand. We wish everyone could come together so we can sit down and talk about a resolution to this gun violence,” he said.

Among the group was College of Cape Town student Lifa Mfente, who said daily gunfire had left students traumatised.

“I appreciate what the group has done. They have stood up for us. Our college campus is in Gugulethu, where we are exposed to shootings and hear gunshots all the time. We are getting close to our final exams, and it is traumatising to study and prepare in such conditions. We wonder how we are going to pass,” he said.

Mfente added that the group had asked police to patrol around their campus and increase visibility. “We want more safety. It is very bad, as we stood in front of the police station, there were two funerals, and they were not old people, they were young people who were murdered. We are in danger,” he said.

Brenda Ntenteni, president of Zwelonke Western Cape, also raised concerns about the safety of learners who will be walking to evening study sessions ahead of exams.

“We plead with the police to be visible and to keep them safe. We also want the police to end the scourge of violence in Gugulethu,” she said.

The memorandum read out by one of the marchers requested SAPS support in creating a safer environment for learners during the examination period, including increased patrols around schools, setting up temporary safety zones, and collaborating with school security to monitor entrances and exits.

It also called for the establishment of emergency contact points for learners and educators, traffic management near exam centres, and initiatives to address GBV and substance abuse.

The document further urged police to run awareness campaigns on GBV prevention, provide confidential support services and referral pathways for victims, and work with NGOs and social workers to ensure trauma-informed care and rapid responses to GBV-related incidents.

Receiving the memorandum, Colonel McCloen said he would hand it over to the station commander.

“We appreciate that all of you came to the station. We look forward to working closely with you. Please be aware that we have challenges at the police station. I will give the station commander the memorandum,” he said.