Three killed after passenger opens fire inside vehicle in Makhaza
Three adult males were fatally wounded when a passenger produced a firearm and opened fire inside a car in Makhaza, Khayelitsha on Wednesday afternoon, according to provincial police. The shootings were reported at around 12:30 on Joe Gqabi Street in Town Two, with two victims found near the vehicle and a third discovered separately in Tabang Street.
Captain FC van Wyk, a police spokesperson, said the Provincial Serious and Violent Crime unit is investigating and following leads to locate the suspect. "Makhaza police registered three counts of murder following a shooting incident on Wednesday, 16 September 2026, at 12:30 on Joe Gqabi Street, Town Two in Makhaza, Khayelitsha," he said.
"Preliminary investigations indicate that all three deceased persons were inside the Toyota vehicle when another passenger randomly started shooting at fellow passengers. The suspect subsequently fled." — Captain FC van Wyk
SAPS members attended the scene and initially found the body of an adult male with multiple gunshot wounds inside a grey Toyota. About 500 metres away, officers located a second male with multiple gunshot wounds. While working at the second scene, a third body was discovered on Tabang Street, van Wyk said. The three deceased have not yet been identified.
- Time and place: 12:30, Joe Gqabi Street, Town Two, Makhaza, Khayelitsha (16 September 2026).
- Victims: three adult males; identities pending.
- Suspect: described by police as a passenger who opened fire and then fled; motive undetermined.
- Investigating unit: Provincial Serious and Violent Crime detectives.
Police have urged anyone with information to make contact. Crime Stop can be reached on 08600-10111, or members of the public can submit anonymous tips via the MySAPS app, van Wyk said.
| Detail | Known information |
|---|---|
| Date and time | 16 September 2026, about 12:30 |
| Location | Joe Gqabi Street, Town Two; Tabang Street (nearby) |
| Investigating authority | Provincial Serious and Violent Crime unit; Makhaza SAPS |
| Number of victims | Three adult males (not yet identified) |
The incident has heightened concern in Khayelitsha, where community members and civic groups have long pushed for improved policing and targeted interventions to curb gun violence. Recent years have seen repeated calls for more visible patrols, better forensic capacity and faster investigative follow-through in township homicides.
While investigators work to establish a motive, the sequence described by police — a passenger turning a firearm on fellow occupants and then fleeing the scene — raises difficult questions for detectives about whether the shooting was the result of a personal dispute, a calculated assassination, or an act of spontaneous violence. The provincial unit's involvement indicates authorities regard the case as part of a pattern of serious and violent crime that requires specialised resources.
For residents, the immediate priorities are clarity and safety. Police have not released further details about the weapon, whether any ballistic or forensic evidence was recovered, or whether there are known witnesses who have been detained or interviewed. Neighbourhood watchers and local ward structures typically act as informal channels of information in such cases; authorities will likely seek their cooperation as the probe continues.
Anyone with information that could assist the investigation has been asked to contact Crime Stop on 08600-10111 or to submit an anonymous tip via the MySAPS app.
