A deeply shocking incident overnight has left the Cape Flats reeling, as a nine-month-old baby and two women were killed in a triple shooting in Athlone late on Tuesday night.
Police say gunmen opened fire at a location in the area, killing the infant and two adults, and wounding two men who were rushed to hospital with serious injuries.
No arrests have yet been made, and investigators have not publicly announced a motive for the violence.
Residents in Athlon, a community long affected by gang activity and gun violence, expressed frustration and fear following the incident calling for immediate and effective intervention to protect families and children.
The tragic event comes amid growing debate over law-enforcement strategies in the Western Cape.
Many locals had pinned their hopes on the imminent deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to crime hotspots to bolster safety, but questions remain over whether this will meaningfully reduce violence.
Sub-Editor: Matlala Kgaugelo
