Residents of Victoria Lodge informal settlement in Southfield are living in fear after the murder of three men on Wednesday night.
Rico Schwimmbacher, Chair of Meadows Community Watch, said the incident could be gang-related.
“The shooting occurred at Victoria Lodge informal settlement which is located at the top end of Victoria Road, on the M5, across from Kilp Road cemetery. Shots were heard last night and not long after that police were at the scene. There is speculation that the shooting was gang-related, but it’s only speculation at this stage.
“He added that trauma counselling has been arranged for children from the informal settlement, through the Diep River Police as well as Neighbourhood Watch. Kobus Killian, a community leader from Victoria Lodge informal settlement, said residents heard gunshots just before 22:00 on Wednesday.
“All of us were indoors when we heard the shots fired just before 22:00. After five to six minutes, we went to see what happened and that was when we saw the bodies of the three men.
“We saw all three lying on the ground, they were all from the same household.”
He added that the electricity at the informal settlement was off for two days and had just switched on for 30 minutes when the shooting occurred.
“One person was shot six to seven times in the head and the others in the chest, head, legs and stomach. It was not nice to see the bodies.
“The community is very scared because something like this has never happened before.”
Police spokesperson Brigadier Novella Potelwa said police were called to the scene where they found three victims aged 42, 43 and 47 lying face down with gunshot wounds to the head.
“Information gathered on the scene suggested that a group of armed suspects with flashlights stopped their vehicles close to the crime scene at 22:00, approached the victims on foot and fired several shots.
“The suspects subsequently fled the scene and are yet to be arrested. The motive for the murders is yet to be determined as investigators continue with the investigation.”
- Anyone with information that can assist with the investigation can contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
