GUN violence rukked hand uit in Belhar at the weekend, with police confirming that two attempted murder cases were opened in separate incidents.
Police spokesperson Thembakazi Mpendukana said that on Sunday night, cops were called to two locations to attend to shooting complaints, just over an hour apart.
In the first case, a man was shot at an address on Lewis Street in Extension 15.
Mpendukana reported: “According to reports, the victim was sitting outside his house with his family at around 9pm when two vehicles stopped by, and the male suspects started shooting and shot the victim in the ankle.
“No other injuries were sustained on the scene, and the victim was taken to the nearest hospital for treatment. A case of attempted murder was opened and is currently under investigation. No arrest has been made.”
Mpendukana also confirmed that a teen was shot on Arundel Drive at around 10.15pm
Mpendukana said: “At 10.15pm, the police received a request to attend a shooting incident that happened at Arundel Drive in Belhar.
“A 15-year-old male sustained gunshot wounds to his lower abdomen. He reported that he was standing in the street when unknown males passed by him and started shooting.
“A case of attempted murder was opened and is currently being investigated. The victim is in the hospital, and no arrest has been made yet.”
Public relations officer for the Belhar Community Police Forum, Ismail Arnold, said that the shootings were random as there is not a gang war currently in the community.
“The shooting of [Sunday] night was indeed gang-related. The 15-year-old boy was standing at the shop in Arundel Drive when he was shot and was taken to the hospital before emergency services responded.
However, Arnold explained that there was no gang war and that these were isolated incidents, adding: “There is no gang war. All these incidents have been reported and are being investigated by Belhar SAPS.
“These incidents are of serious concern to the CPF and SAPS. We are engaging with relevant role players to address ongoing safety challenges in the area.
“All information has been verified by the relevant stakeholders.”