OUR people were shot and wounded, including one in the head, on Saturday night as gangsters opened fire near a winkel in Hanover Park.
According to the local Community Police Forum spokesperson Kashiefa Mohammed, the victims were caught in the crossfire as they stood by the shop.
Three of the victims, including a 14-year-old boy and his oupa, were rushed to hospital in private transport for various injuries – the boy was hit in the leg, the grandfather was hit in the hand, while the third sustained an undisclosed wound.
The fourth, a 19-year-old male, was hit in the head and treated on the scene and is said to be recovering.
Mohammed says: “The shooting is gang-related. They were not shooting at them [the victims] directly, they were caught in the crossfire when gangsters started opening fire.”
Police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi said that Philippi police are investigating four counts of attempted murder.
Swartbooi reports: “Philippi police responded to a complaint on Saturday, 7 June 2025. Upon their arrival in Groenport Walk, Hanover Park, they found a 19-year-old man who sustained a gunshot wound.
“He was transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.
“Three other males, including a 14 year old, who also sustained injuries were already transported to hospitals with private transport. The unknown suspects fled and they are yet to be arrested.
“The motive for this attack is now the subject of an investigation.”
Kashiefa said that the gun violence in Hanover Park is non-stop, keeping the community of Hanover Park under siege throughout the area for weeks.
She adds: “These gangsters don’t care, they see it is a young boy and her grandfather but they still shoot. There is no respect, these gangsters do as they please.
“Police are failing our community because we have to wait on police for two to three hours to attend to a crime scene. We have community members who want to work with police, who tell police who the shooters are but there are no arrests.
“The community is very tense. As a grandmother, I fear for my grandchildren to walk outside because these shooters don’t care about women and children and it is the innocent people that are getting shot and killed.
"The shootings are ongoing. As the CPF, you attend to one incident and then another incident happens.
“The entire Hanover Park is in a gang war. We need more police visibility and more boots on the ground.”
Police are appealing to anyone with information to please call Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or alternatively use the mobile application MySAPS anonymously.