Fear grips Manenberg residents after an alleged Hard Livings gang member was gunned down in a brazen shooting on Thames Avenue. With two men killed and no arrests, the community braces for retaliation amid rising gang violence in Cape Town.

The Deadly Ambush

Attackers struck fast on the corner of Manenberg and Thames avenues. Two cars boxed in the victims' vehicle. Three gunmen jumped out and opened fire. Bullets hit both occupants in the upper body. One victim was an alleged member of the Hard Livings gang. He often helped neighbors with food, electricity, and funeral costs. The other was an innocent electrician who hitched a ride that day. Both men, aged 50 and 53, died from their wounds.

The shooting unfolded outside a creche. Teachers had just arrived for the day. No kids were there yet, but the timing chills parents. Residents say gangsters wait for schools to start before escalating fights. With Ramadan approaching in February, many worry about violence during sacred times.

Rising Tensions in the Community

People in Manenberg feel trapped. One local said gangsters shoot near schools when kids head home. Another pointed to a pattern: "They waited for school to start and began shooting." Hard Livings members patrolled streets days before the attack. Fears run high of an all-out war with rivals like the Fancy Boys.

This follows two other killings. An alleged Fancy Boys gangster died outside the police station. A teen runaway got gunned down in a shack near a canal on Wednesday. Locals link it all to turf battles. "It's about controlling more territory," one resident explained. The community policing forum urges folks to share tips with cops.

Police Hunt for Suspects

Manenberg police opened two murder cases. Spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk confirmed the details: "Two males were shot and fatally wounded. Suspects fled the scene." No arrests yet, but the motive is under probe.

Officers met with the community forum for more patrols as schools reopened. "We appeal to the community to come forward with any information," said forum officer Abdurahman Govind. Increased visibility aims to curb the chaos.