By Staff Reporter
Three foreign nationals were killed and six others were seriously injured after a shooting on Friday night in Hout Bay, Cape Town.
The attack is suspected of being related to protection fees.
Unknown gunmen attacked three spaza shops on Molokwane Street in the Imizamo Yethu area.
A resident, who asked to stay anonymous, described the situation.
“After hearing so many gunshots, I knew someone was being killed. It felt like a movie,” she said.
“When we heard gunshots, I stopped preparing supper, and we hid under our beds and tables and lay on the floor to avoid stray bullets.”
She only went outside after hearing the police arrive.
“Our area used to be safe, but things changed when this protection fee issue started. We used to hear about it in other places, but now it’s happening here. I heard that the victims were shot by protection fee gang members,” she said.
The resident explained that foreign nationals running spaza shops have been forced to pay protection money to different groups.
“It’s sad they were killed even after paying other groups. When the third group came, they didn’t have money left, so they were murdered,” she said.
“Nobody went outside on Saturday, and only a few people went out on Sunday. It felt like being in lockdown again, like during Covid-19.”
She said she didn’t understand why the government wasn’t doing anything about the protection fee issue.
“Innocent people are being killed just for trying to support their families,” the resident said.
Western Cape SAPS spokesperson, Colonel Andre Traut, confirmed that detectives are working to find the suspects responsible for the deaths of three foreign nationals and the attempted murder of six others.
“Unknown gunmen opened fire at the victims. Three men died, and six others were taken to hospital with serious injuries,” Traut said.
Pictured above: Police.
Source: File
