Four family members have been killed after gunmen fired shots at them in Thabong, Welkom last night.
Free State police spokesperson Motantsi Makhele says four unknown armed men allegedly entered a house at New Stands, Thabong.
Makhele says without a warning, suspects fired random shots at family members inside the house.
Makhele says no one has been arrested and police are searching for the suspects.
“Four of them were fatally wounded, that is a 59-year-old woman, 31-year-old woman, a 23-year-old man and a 10-year-old girl. Two boys aged 6 and 9 years old managed to escape and alerted neighbours. The motive for this gruesome killing is unknown and a manhunt has been launched to trace these killers. Anyone with information that can lead to the arrests of suspects should please contact, Detective Constable Keke Sithole of Thabong Serious and Violent Crime at 060 985 9276 or call Crime Stop at 08600 10111.”
Cape Town gang-related murders
Three suspects were expected to appear in the Paarl Magistrate’s Court in the Boland outside Cape Town on Monday in connection with a gang-related triple murder at the weekend.
Police spokesperson Novela Potelwa says a fourth person was wounded during the incident.
“When police arrived in Rocky Street, they found four victims with gunshot wounds. Three were already dead and one had sustained serious gunshot injuries. A search for the suspects ensued and as part of the 72-hour activation plan with Anti Gang Unit detectives investigating murder and attempted murder cases. The shooting is believed to be gang-related. Police continue to monitor the area.”
Last week, three men were killed in a gang-related shooting in Lotus River in Cape Town.
Police spokesperson, Novela Potelwa, said detectives from the anti-gang unit are investigating the killings.
Potelwa says no arrests had been made.
“The victims whose bodies were discovered on an open field had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. While their identities are yet to be released, they were aged 31, 35, and 37.”
Crime stats
Earlier in August, Police Minister Bheki Cele released the crime stats for quarter one (April – June) of the 2021/22 financial year period.
POPCRU on the latest crime stats:
Five thousand people have been murdered in South Africa between April and June 2021. A further ten thousand were raped.
Murder, rape, car hijacking and armed robbery are some of the crimes showing less or no levels of decrease.
