355 gunshot-related deaths this year so far

THE WESTERN Cape Health Department’s Central data revealed that their hospitals saw a total of 355 gunshot wound deaths in 2022 and 80% of the murder victims died before reaching medical services.

Mark van der Heever, deputy director of communications at the Western Cape Health Department said from its 27 Sentinel Emergency Centres, it managed a total of 1 309 gunshot wound victims who were between the ages of 20 to 40 and 89.4% were male.

Just as the numbers were revealed, newly appointed MEC of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Reagan Allen said he visited Manenberg which has seen a spate of gang violence.

Allen, who was appointed last week by Premier Alan Winde, said he called on the police to secure arrests and that he would ensure that his department in the capacity of the SAPS continued oversight.

While he sympathised with the families of the victims, Allen said it was important that people began to feel safer living in gang-riddled communities.

“I am outraged by the persistent gang-related violence that we have seen in our communities.

“Just today (Thursday), I visited Manenberg, which is among those communities which have been affected by ongoing gang-related violence.

“I call on the SAPS in the Western Cape to leave no stone unturned in their investigations and bring those guilty parties to book.

“The lack of arrests and stabilisation in this regard points to the lack of police resourcing in our province which must be urgently addressed to ensure that residents feel safe in their communities.

“In turn, my department will continue to take its oversight capacity over SAPS very seriously. I also want to share my heartfelt condolences to those who have lost friends, family and loved ones to persistent and senseless violence. The loss of one life, really is the loss of one life too many,” Allen said.

Shootings have increased in recent weeks and months in Cape Town and just last weekend a four-year-old boy was wounded during a drive-by shooting in Langeberg, Tafelsig, Mitchells Plain.

Prior to that, Monique Cottle, the mother of murdered four-year-old Scarlett Cottle, was also killed during a shooting in Ottery where an adult male died.

Also in April, Lekeesha Smith, also known as Lameez Johnson, 15, was murdered while standing outside her home in Military Heights in Lavender Hill and was celebrating a friend’s birthday.

On March 10 people were killed in Manenberg, and four women and six people were murdered in Khayelitsha during one incident.

| FILE THE Health Department says 355 gunshot wounds resulting in death occurred this year.