Five people were killed and three others wounded when gunmen opened fire at a home in Blode Street, Lavender Hill on the evening of 24 October, Western Cape police reported. The provincial police have offered a R100 000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and successful prosecution of those responsible.
Police response and investigation
Western Cape Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Sizakhele Dyantyi and senior police management visited the scene on the morning of 25 October, the police said. Authorities have opened investigations into five counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder, and additional policing resources were deployed to the area to track down suspects.
The police also reported violence directed at officers who responded to the shooting. Steenberg police were reportedly pelted with stones as they arrived at the scene, an attack Dyantyi publicly condemned.
Community reaction and calls for support
Local community representatives described the area as traumatised and called for urgent, long-term support for residents, especially children.
“Our anger and frustration are understandable, but we need to channel them in the right direction. We need to mobilise, work together and hold the relevant people accountable,”
said Nicola Small, chairperson of the Steenberg Community Police Forum (CPF).
An unnamed community leader who works with children told reporters that attendance at public and CPF meetings had been poor, and that families remain divided. They said trauma counselling for children and parenting workshops are urgently needed to help the community process the deaths.
Gender-based violence activist Lucinda Evans of Philisa Abafazi Bethu said tackling violence requires collective responsibility, urging both authorities and civil society to address deeper causes.
What police have offered and next steps
The R100 000 reward is aimed at encouraging members of the public with information to come forward. Police said tips leading to arrests and successful prosecutions will qualify for the payment. Dyantyi reiterated that multiple killings in close succession are unacceptable and called for an end to such incidents.
- Incident: Shooting at a home in Blode Street, Lavender Hill
- Casualties: 5 killed, 3 wounded
- Date: Evening of 24 October
- Reward: R100 000 for information leading to arrest and successful prosecution
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Deaths | 5 |
| Injured | 3 |
| Reward | R100 000 |
| Police response | Additional resources deployed; scene visited by provincial commissioner |
Wider context and practical information
Lavender Hill is among Cape Town’s communities that have experienced recurrent violence in recent years. Community policing forums, non-governmental organisations and the SAPS often urge a combination of visible policing, social interventions and victim support to reduce the cycle of retaliatory attacks.
Residents with information are urged to contact Steenberg police or the SAPS tip line. Where physical safety is a concern, callers can ask to make anonymous reports or use crime tip-off services. Those in need of trauma support should approach local clinics, NGOs working on victims’ support or the provincial Department of Health to be directed to available counselling services.
Provincial police have not yet released further details about possible motives or suspects. Investigations remain ongoing and police said they will update the community as lines of inquiry develop.
The killing of five people in a single incident has reopened questions about how best to protect neighbourhoods where policing is strained and social service delivery is uneven. Community leaders say short-term security measures must be paired with long-term investment in the psychosocial and economic needs of residents if such violence is to be prevented.
