Man Shot Dead Outside Athlone Magistrate’s Court, Residents Concerned Revenge Killings Could Follow
- Police are on scene at the Athlone Magistrate's Court, where a man was shot dead as he was leaving the premises
- The man, who is believed to be a member of a gang, was gunned down by a man who then fled the scene
- The City of Cape Town has been plagued by gang violence, with no end in sight to the continuous killings
- A resident of Mitchell's Plain spoke to Briefly News about some of the violent crimes in that area
Source: Getty Images
Briefly News journalist Byron Pillay has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He spent 10 years working for the Northern Natal Courier before transitioning to online journalism.
WESTERN CAPE – One person has been shot dead at the Athlone Magistrate’s Court as gang-related violence continues to plague the City of Cape Town.
The man was leaving the court premises when one person opened fire on him. He succumbed to the gunshot wounds at the scene. Family and friends soon gathered outside the court as news broke about who the victim was.
Killing is believed to be gang-related
While police did not confirm whether the murder was gang-related at first, community members who gathered at the scene told eNCA that it was.
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Residents stated that the man, believed to be a gang member, had been targeted by a rival group. The murder has sparked fears of more violence in retaliation.
During eNCA’s broadcast from the scene, tensions were rising as rival members reportedly threatened to get revenge for the killing.
Police later confirmed that the murder was gang-related. The Western Cape has been plagued by numerous gang-related incidents, with no end in sight.
Man and woman wounded in separate shooting
Following the shooting outside the court, another man and woman were wounded in a separate shooting in another part of Athlone. Police confirmed the incident while searching for the suspect who gunned down the man at the court.
While no arrests were made, police did discover a firearm and personal belongings on an individual in the area. Investigations continue into both shootings.
Source: Getty Images
Shootings outside court becoming a common theme in Cape Town
The murder is not the first outside the Athlone Magistrate's Court this year. In February 2025, a 43-year-old man was shot and killed outside the court at approximately 2 pm.
The problem is not limited to Athlone alone. In April 2025, a man who was waiting in the corridors of the Wynberg Magistrate's Court was shot dead. Five people have been arrested for that murder.
In August 2025, two men were shot outside the Mitchell's Plain Magistrate's Court. One of the men died at the scene, while the other was rushed to the hospital.
Speaking to Briefly News about the shooting in Mitchell's Plain, a resident of the area who asked not to be named for fear of his safety, said that he was considering moving. He added that gang violence was just one of the problems plaguing the area, as there were frequent smash-and-grabs as well as hijackings taking place.
Arms cache seized in Mitchell's Plain
Briefly News reported that Western Cape police discovered an arms cache in a residential home in Lentegeur.
19 firearms were discovered at the property, as well as 1,500 rounds of ammunition and a shooting practice board.
South Africans weighed in on the find, with some expressing concern about what the weapons were planned to be used for.
Mpumalanga shooting leaves 2 people dead and a police constable injured in KwaMhlanga, SA concerned
Meanwhile, a high-level investigation is underway into a fatal shooting that left two people dead and another injured in KwaMhlanga, in the Nkangala District Municipality, Mpumalanga. The shooting, which happened in the early hours of the morning on Thursday, 4 September 2025, left a male police constable dead and a female police constable injured. The constables were believed to have been in a romantic relationship.
According to Provincial Police Spokesperson, Brigadier Donald Mdhluli, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
He explained that the incident happened at approximately 2:30 am on Thursday, and when police arrived, they found the body of a 69-year-old woman with gunshot wounds. The woman was the mother of the female constable. They also found the body of the male constable, who also succumbed to gunshot wounds.
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Source: Briefly News
