DEADLY PARTY ATTACK ‘WELL-PLANNED’
“IT WAS like a movie, everything happened so quickly.”
This is how a witness described a shooting that led to the killing of a woman and left seven others, including a five year old, wounded at a 21st birthday party in Mandalay on Saturday night.
They were attacked by occupants of a green Honda Ballade in what has been described as a well-orchestrated shooting.
The 24-year-old woman died in hospital while others were being treated for their gunshot wounds. The five year old was shot in the eye.
Speaking to the Cape Times yesterday, the shaken eyewitness who asked to remain anonymous out of fear of reprisals said party goers were having a good time before the attack. “People were just having fun and random guys shot at us. At the time they started shooting I was standing by the gate and as they were getting closer I ran to close the garage where we were all seated.
“While I was closing the garage two bullets passed by me. I am very lucky to be alive. Many other people started to run to get a place to hide and that is where some were shot.
“We don't have many shootings in this area. This was the first time I experienced this. It was like a movie, everything happened so quickly. I have been trying to process this in my mind but because of the shock my mind is unstable now.”
Police spokesperson Andre Traut said police would remain in the area.
“The SAPS have implemented the 72-hour activation plan to bring to book those responsible for the shooting incident in Mandalay which left a 24-yearold female fatally wounded and seven others hospitalised. At around 8.20pm occupants of a green Honda Ballade fired randomly at guests attending a birthday party at a residence in Montclair Drive, Mandalay, and fled the scene. The eight victims aged between five and 26 were admitted to hospital where the 24-yearold female later succumbed to death,” said Traut.
Detectives were at the scene, gathering evidence to determine the motive.
“Additional operational forces have been deployed in Lentegeur policing precinct to stabilise the situation and to support the detectives with their investigation. These forces will remain in the area until we are satisfied with the progress of our operational endeavours.”
Montclair Community Police Forum (CPF) chairperson Nkululeko Mfecane has urged the government to embark on seizing illegal firearms in the most dangerous areas.
“This is shocking for the community. We have never had such an incident.
“This kind of incident usually happens in Khayelitsha and other notorious townships.
“We never thought that one day our people would be brutally attacked in this manner. The suspects know exactly what they were doing and they will have to account for what they did because this is not a mistake, it was well orchestrated.
“The community will now have to find ways to prevent this from happening again and as from now we wish to have a strict police presence,” said Mfecane
SACP provincial secretary Benson Ngqentsu has called on the police to leave no stone unturned until the perpetrators had been brought to book.
“The SACP in the Western Cape condemns in the strongest terms possible the senseless killing of people in Mandalay. The killing as reported appears as well orchestrated. We hope and trust that this case will not be part of countless unsolved cold cases. We wish those who are in hospital a speedy recovery,” said Ngqentsu.
Anyone with information about the incident can anonymously contact Crime Stop on 086 0010 111 or SMS Crime Line on 32211.