Residents of Harare Section in Khayelitsha, Cape Town relieved after eight alleged criminals were gunned down on Wednesday. The bodies of the seven men and one woman were all found with gunshot wounds. They are suspected to have been terrorising the community.

A prominent businessman and a resident of Harare told ZiMoja that the community was over the moon after learning of the alleged criminals' deaths. The businessman who did not want to be named claimed that the eight are part of a gang that has been terrorising the community in Khayelitsha for years. "These kids have turned Khayelitsha into a gangsters paradise. They are running the streets and if they see you as a threat in their operations, they kill you. It's not only happening in Khayelitsha, even in our neighbouring townships like Crossroads, Nyanga and Langa, there are gangs that rape, kill, rob and sell drugs," he said. "The community is relieved that at least eight criminals are down. We have had enough of these criminals,"

Another community member who also refused to be named fearing victimisation said what have made things worse is the new trend of demanding a protection fee from business owners in the townships. "These criminals, with most being teenagers, demand a R500 'protection' fee from businesses. If you don't pay them, they kill you," she said. The community member also told ZiMoja that between October and December 2023, 60 people were killed in Khayelitsha alone. "Our townships are now like jungles. If you own rooms and renting them out, these kids come and demand money you make from rentals. They even tell you that a certain number of rooms belong to them. If you stand in their way or demand, they kill you," she added.

According to the police, a man and his girlfriend were shot and killed in Feza Street in Harare and shortly after that, a 35-year-old male was shot and killed, not far from the first scene. Three hours later, five people were gunned down in Ncumo Street, Harare. Western Cape police spokesperson Colonel Andre Traut said preliminary investigations into the murders led the detectives into believing that the incidents could possibly be linked. "The identities of the eight victims cannot be disclosed at this stage and the murders are being probed by detectives from the provincial serious and violent crimes unit."