A drive-by shooting in Bishop Lavis has raised fears that a gang war is gaining momentum in Cape Town, with community members warning that the neighbourhood and surrounding areas could see an increase in gun attacks.
Three men aged between 22 and 35 were shot dead in a drive-by shooting on Saturday.
Western Cape police spokesman Noloyiso Rwexana said police were investigating the shooting.
"A shooting incident occurred at Ferel Road, Nooitgedacht, Bishop Lavis [on Saturday] afternoon.
"Three victims were shot. Two died on the scene, the other one died in hospital. Murder cases are being investigated. No one has been arrested yet," said Rwexana.
But the chair of the community policing forum, Graham Lindhorst, has linked the latest shooting to a gang war, which saw alleged Sexy Boys gang leader Jerome "Donkie" Booysen shot at last month.
Booysen was shot and wounded on his way to meet an associate in Elsies River, Cape Town.
The shooting followed another that claimed the lives of two men and left 11 others wounded, prompting an intervention from Police Minister Fikile Mbalula.
Lindhorst said all indications were that it was a gang-related hit.
"It's related to incidents not only in the area but outside the area too.
"I think a month ago, you would have heard that there was someone shot in Elsies River but that stays in Belhar. We think it's a retaliation," he said, adding there were now fears of more retaliatory attacks.
"We think the revenge that is going to take place might not be in Bishop Lavis but in another area," he said.
Lindhorst said the fear was that innocent bystanders would be affected in the shootings.
"The answers that I am looking for is: 'How can people just drive by, 2 o'clock in the afternoon and be at liberty to shoot?'
"It cannot be. People need to be afraid that they will be caught'," he said.
Lindhorst said he wanted a meeting with the police in the area to speak about visible policing to deter such incidents.
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