BOKSBURG – A quiet Saturday afternoon in Reiger Park was shattered by a hail of bullets as assailants in two vehicles launched a random and brutal attack, killing six people and leaving three others injured in a drive-by shooting that has sent shockwaves through the community.
Gauteng police have launched a massive manhunt for the killers, who are said to have been driving a silver and a black VW Polo. According to authorities, the occupants of these vehicles drove into the area and opened fire randomly on residents, turning a routine weekend into a scene of tragedy.
The circumstances behind the shooting are still unclear, with police confirming that investigations are at an early but active stage.
Police Mobilise, Community Urged to Assist
In response to the atrocity, Acting Gauteng Police Commissioner, Maj-Gen Fred Kekana, has mobilised all necessary resources to track down the perpetrators. He made a heartfelt appeal to the Reiger Park community, urging them to collaborate with law enforcement.
“We appeal to the community of Reiger Park to allow law enforcement officers to do their job and work together with them by reporting any criminal activities,” Maj-Gen Kekana stated, directing tips to the Crime Stop line.
Political Parties Point to Proliferation of Illegal Firearms
The incident has sparked swift and strong reactions from political parties, who are pointing to a national crisis of illegal firearms.
ActionSA was among the first to respond, with its Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate, Xolani Khumalo, calling the shooting part of a disturbing pattern rather than an isolated event. “Communities are rightly asking why SAPS cannot answer the critical question of who is supplying the weapons that continue to terrorise communities,” Khumalo said.
He described communities as facing an “existential crisis,” linking the bloodshed in Reiger Park to near-daily mass shootings from the Cape Flats to Ekurhuleni. ActionSA advocated for police to intensify collaboration with community crime-fighting forums to compensate for intelligence gaps, stating that “the fight against criminality is most effectively waged when police and communities work hand in hand.”
The African Transformation Movement (ATM) also condemned the “acts of lawlessness” which they said undermine the safety and dignity of citizens. While commending the police’s swift response, the party joined the call for community cooperation.
“ATM calls upon all members of the Reiger Park community to co-operate fully with law enforcement authorities by providing any information that may assist in bringing the criminals to justice,” the party said, reiterating its commitment to stronger community policing initiatives.
As the manhunt intensifies, a community is left to bury its dead and grapple with the trauma of a violence that appears both random and relentless.
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