Four men have been wounded and a home raked with drive-by gunfire, in separate shootings in Woodstock, say police.
The latest wave of violence in the neighbourhood comes just days after two men were gunned down at the same spot – the corner of Argyle and Regent streets – within 24 hours of each other. Their deaths happened two days after a man was shot dead in the Mascani squatter camp (“Three men die in Woodstock shootings,” Southern Suburbs Tatler, September 9).
“Police are investigating various shootings at this location which occurred in the past three weeks, and we are well aware that the area is synonymous with gang activity,” said Woodstock police spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Alroy van der Berg.
All the perpetrators remain at large, and the police have warned the public to take care when walking through the neighbourhood.
On Saturday September 11, at about 6.30am, a man was shot in the arm through the window of his Wright Street house as he sat on the toilet, said Lieutenant Colonel Van der Berg.
On Monday, at about 5.10am, a man was shot in his upper body as he walked down Albert Street. He was rushed to hospital.
“He was shot by two unknown gunmen, one was on a bike while another was walking,” said Lieutenant Colonel Van der Berg.
Later, at 7.45am, two men were shot in Mascani. “One was shot in the leg and the other one in the arm,” said Lieutenant Colonel Van der Berg.
On Tuesday, at about 6am, several shots were fired at a Regent Street house from a passing vehicle.
“Police were at the scene and there were no injuries,” said Lieutenant Colonel Van der Berg.
SAPS had increased visibility in the area and had called for support from City Law Enforcement in response to the ongoing shootings, he said.
The provincial Department of Community Safety had noted the rise in gun violence in Woodstock and was monitoring the situation closely, said spokesman Wade Seale.
“We will ask police to increase their visibility in the area and investigate the incidents to ensure that perpetrators are brought to book,” he said, adding that the department would ask the City to deploy Law Enforcement officers to the area, under the provincial safety plan, if the shootings continued.
The police have asked anyone with information about the shootings to come forward. “All information will be treated with confidentiality,” said Lieutenant Colonel Van der Berg. Please call Woodstock police on 021 442 3117 if you have any information.
