Nyanga Shooting Leaves 3 People Dead, South Africans Call Cape Town a Warzone As Violence Escalates
- Three people have been killed in the latest fatal shooting to affect the Cape Town area, this time in Nyanga
- The latest mass shooting took place on the corner of Borcherds Quarry and Klipfontein Road
- South Africans weighed in on the shooting, describing the city as a warzone or Gaza, because of the violence
- Claire Taylor from Gun Free South Africa spoke to Briefly News about what needed to be done to curb gun violence
CHECK OUT: How to Start Earning with Copywriting in Just 7 Days – Even if You’re a Complete Beginner
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 – Gun violence continues to plague Cape Town and the Western Cape as a whole, with cases reported every day.
In the latest fatal shooting, three people were gunned down in Nyanga, in what has been described as a mass shooting. The shooting occurred at the intersection of Borcherds Quarry and Klipfontein Road.
The motive for the shooting is not yet known, but the province has been gripped by rampant gang violence. Over 300 people were killed in the Western Cape in August 2025 alone, from gang-related shootings.
PAY ATTENTION: Briefly News is now on YouTube! Check out our interviews on Briefly TV Life now!
One teenager among the victims
Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk confirmed the three deaths, adding that one of the victims was only 19.
“Upon arrival at the scene, police discovered the bodies of the three deceased persons with gunshot wounds located at three scenes that are metres apart. Two other males were taken to a nearby hospital with gunshot wounds,” van Wyk said.
He confirmed that the deceased were aged 19, 31, and 44. Speaking to IOL, residents of the area said that one of the men was a mechanic who went towards the scene after hearing gunshots and was caught in the crossfire. Residents noted that the suspects appeared to be shooting at random, which caused more than one person to be hit by bullets.
Gun Free South Africa calls for increased efforts
Speaking exclusively to Briefly News about the rising gun violence in the province, Claire Taylor, Research and Policy Analyst for Gun Free South Africa (GFSA), said that this demanded the highest level of political attention and resources.
Taylor spoke about a recent discovery made in Mitchell's Plain, where police seized an arms cache. She said while the recovery was welcomed, and police needed to be congratulated for it, she agreed with residents who said that it was a drop in the ocean.
“Much more needs to be done to reduce gun availability across South Africa,” Taylor noted.
She said that while Operation Buyisa represented the kind of coordinated approach needed, focusing specifically on reducing both illegal and legal firearm availability, the situation needed an all-of-government approach that recognised that guns are enablers and multipliers of all crime types, including growing organised crime.
“SA’s gun violence crisis is overwhelming our health system, undermining our justice system, deterring investment and contributing to massive fear and trauma,” she added.”
Source: Twitter
What did South Africans say about the shooting?
Social media users shared their frustration with the continued violence, with many saying that Cape Town was now a warzone.
Penuel Buda said:
“That place is a war zone.”
Tumelo Lekalakala stated:
“It’s Gaza in Cape Town.”
Quee Mmathapelo Thapy exclaimed:
“Yoo, aii, every day there’s a crime scene.”
Lihleli Konzie added:
“We will always say that the Cape Flats needs military intervention.”
Walter Gavin Conrad exclaimed:
“Beautiful Cape Town is a warzone.”
Tshepo Sithole asked:
“How many more lives do we have to lose in order for our government to see that we have a crisis in this country?”
Zizi Skhindi Nocuze said:
“The DA has run out of ideas to deal with those killings in Cape Flats.”
Acting Police Minister Cachalia blames weak schools and unemployment for gun violence in Cape Town
Meanwhile Acting Police Minister, Firoz Cachalia, stated that weak schooling and unemployment play a big role in the ongoing gun violence in Cape Town. The minister said that people need to be honest and confront the facts about the conditions that resulted in the gun violence. Cachalia and MPs debated the ongoing gun violence on the Cape Flats in Parliament on Friday, 19 September 2025.
Briefly News reported that Acting Police Minister Professor Cachalia called for an end to the conflict between gangsters in the Western Cape.
Professor Cachalia made the address during the 27th Interpol African Regional Conference in Cape Town, on 27 August 2025.
South Africans discussed Cachalia's statement, saying that he should present solutions to end gang warfare in the area.
Source: Briefly News
