Cape Town - The informal settlement of Imizamo Yethu in Hout Bay remains tense after three Somali nationals were shot and killed.
The victims, believed to be shopkeepers at three different spaza shops, were gunned down when unknown gunmen opened fire on them.
The deadly shootings took place simultaneously just before 8pm on Friday at the shops in Molokwane Street.
The three men died instantly, while six other people believed to be relatives, were also wounded in the shootings.
Police spokesperson, André Traut, said provincial Serious and Violent Crime detectives were pursuing leads in a bid to apprehend the suspects.
He said the motive for the multiple murders and attempted murders was the subject of the investigation.
Hout Bay Community Policing Forum (CPF) chairperson, Loyiso Skoti, said the area is still tense following the shootings. Skoti confirmed the shootings are believed to be linked to extortion in the area.
“It is a big shock, especially for the community, but our plan now is to create an awareness with community structures. It will be addressed in community meetings and (we will) try to see how we can move forward as a community,” he said.
The Cape Argus attempted to visit Molokwane Street yesterday, but was unable to do so because the area remained a red zone.
Skoti said some ambassadors from Namibia were also supposed to visit the area, but their trip has since been cancelled following the incident.
“I was supposed to meet the Namibian ambassadors, they were also warned that it is not safe to come into the area, I’m not sure who warned them,” he said.
Police oversight and community safety MEC Anroux Marais has called on the public to assist the police in successfully apprehending the suspects.
“South Africa has a terrible recent history of xenophobic attacks.
“South African society must reject such attacks, which has no place in the Western Cape,” she said.
Marais further expressed her trust in the Serious and Violent Crimes Unit to apprehend the perpetrators.
Police have appealed to anyone who can shed light on the circumstances of the incident to call Crime Stop on 0860010111 or by using the mobile application MySAPS anonymously.
Cape Argus