At least seven people have been killed in similar shooting incidents in Mamelodi township in Pretoria since August, with the latest attack took place at the weekend.
In a country like ours, where violence is commonplace, it cannot be ruled out that these killings may not necessarily be connected. However, the victims share a similar profile. They are all believed to be part of gang activities in the community.
It is therefore reasonable to believe, as many residents do, that these murders may be interlinked.
This is perhaps what has fuelled speculation in the community that there is a turf war unfolding between members of rival criminal gangs.
The police have so far only confirmed that they are investigating murders allegedly being committed by a gang called Bafarasai, a breakaway from the notorious group that calls itself Boko Haram.
Boko Haram has for months been described by residents and Mamelodi's business community as a complex criminal network that uses violence to extort money from individuals and businesses in the township.
Yesterday cops told this newspaper that a team comprising of specialised units, including those from Organised Crime and Crime Intelligence, has been revived to investigate the recent murders.
However, they refused to give details, possibly to safeguard their investigations.
However, considering that so far no one has been arrested, it is also likely that in the weeks since this round of killings began, the police are nowhere closer to understanding what is going on.
This is why today we call on members of the community to come forward with information to help crack these cases.
The more bodies pile up, the greater the likelihood that even more people are privy to information that could help put an end to this killing spree.
Equally, we urge the police to create the necessary safety net that reasonably guarantees their protection and the credible processing of their information.
These killings may indeed be the work of criminals targeting their rivals but their impact can never be removed from the rest of the community.
They are a symptom of the lawlessness and anarchy that is getting increasingly entrenched in our communities – often with devastating consequences for innocent lives.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.