Suspected gang leader gunned down in Parkwood

A suspected American gang leader has been gunned down in Parkwood. Two others were left wounded in Friday night’s shooting.

‘’Grassy Park detectives are hard at work pursuing leads in a bid to apprehend those who are responsible for the death of a male and the attempt to kill another male and female on Friday 21 February. At around 23:30 unknown gunmen opened fire at the occupant of a vehicle and two people in Willow Road in Parkwood. The driver of the vehicle did not survive this onslaught on his life and were declared deceased on the scene by the medical personnel whilst a male aged 35 and a female aged 29 were admitted to hospital with injuries. The unknown suspects fled the scene in an undisclosed direction,’’ said Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi, Western Cape police spokesperson.

PICTURE: Pixabay

Swartbooi says the motive for this murder and attempted murder is believed to be gang related. Grassy park police are probing a case of murder and two counts of attempted murder.

There has been several deaths relating to alleged prominent gangsters in the metro - Two days ago, an alleged gang leader part of the Westsiders has been gunned down in front of his house in Heideveld. Earlier this month, an alleged gangster of the Americans was fatally shot outside the Athlone Magistrates Court, and then last month, an alleged gang leader of the Junky Funky Kidz in Lavender Hill was shot and killed outside the Brackenfell police station.

The shooting occurred hours after police minister, Senzo Mchunu, who released the third quarter crime statistics of the current financial year, said he’s concerned about gang violence in the Western Cape. The latest figures show that 263 gang-related murders were reported in the province between October and December 2024.

‘’This is completely unacceptable and it must change. A large number of these murders (collectively amounting to a figure of 135) occurred in Bishop Lavis, Mitchells Plain, Kleinvlei, Delft and Elsies River,’’ said Senzo Mchunu, Police Minister.

‘’The issue of gang violence requires a rethink in approach, because this is not only a historic matter but is also repetitive in nature; there is no point in us discussing one and the same thing with no change. We are dedicating the 27th of February (that is, next week Thursday) to amongst other things, review policing in high murder zones, and our focus will therefore be on murders and firearms, whereafter we will decide on the concrete steps that need to be taken. Partnerships with communities and other partners will be a critical element in the rethink in approach,’’ he added.

Done By: Mitchum George