Two gunned down as gang violence flares up in Athlone

ATHLONE residents were left shaken after two men were shot dead within minutes of each other in the same area on Friday night.

​According to locals, skollies are allegedly engaged in a bloody turf war that locals describe as a dangerous flare-up of gang violence.​

​Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk said that a murder case was registered for investigation after a 34-year-old vagrant male was shot at Block 26.

​Van Wyk reported: “Athlone SAPS members were also alerted to a shooting incident at Springbok Street, Block 26, Kewtown, Athlone, in which an unidentified adult male was shot and fatally wounded.​“

​“According to reports on Friday, 6 February at 8.30pm, SAPS members attended a shooting incident at the mentioned address, and on the members arrival, they were informed of a male who was lying in the road. ​

​“He was shot multiple times. He was declared as deceased on the scene.”​

​Subsequently, cops attended another shooting incident in the same street at Block 30, where a 20-year-old male was shot and fatally wounded.​

​Van Wyk added: “Athlone SAPS detectives are investigating a murder case.”​

​According to Daily Voice sources close to the investigation, the shooting is believed to be gang-related.​

​The source revealed: “Eleven cartridges were found on the scene, and the motive is gang-related - a fight between the Junky Funky Kids and Fancy Boys.”

​These shootings follow two separate gang shootings that occurred on 4 February, in which a male was shot dead in St Athans Road, Belgravia, while another was gunned down later that evening on the corners of Belgravia Road and Voël Street.

​Statice Heights neighbourhood watch coordinator Amina Rajap told the Daily Voice that it appears skollies are fighting for territory, but questioned why, as the community is so klein.

​She explained: “Most of the people who come and make trouble are outside people. We do have a few problem houses and some members that belong to the Wonder Kids and bring danger to our community, and we fear for our children.”​

​The community is planning to host an imbizo on 10 February at the Athlone Civic Centre to combat the shootings from escalating further.