Blood trail and more than 40 evidence markings reveal carnage of Lentegeur mass shooting - IOL

Four people were killed in a late-night shooting in Lentegeur, Mitchells Plain, on Wednesday.

More than 40 evidence markers were visible along Blombos Street on Thursday morning as police investigated the shooting. Blood was also visible where two victims had fallen, while a trail led towards nearby Eisleben Road, where Franko Blaauw is believed to have collapsed while trying to escape.

Police responded to reports of gunfire at about 11.15pm. Two men were found fatally wounded in Blombos Street and were declared dead at the scene.

Blaauw, who had also been shot, was found in Eisleben Road and died from his injuries.

Aiden Thompson, Blaauw, Noel Mellem and Anne Hofman were later confirmed dead.

Hofman initially survived the shooting and was taken to hospital in a critical condition. She died at about 7am on Thursday.

Hofman’s sister, Rochelle Banthan, arrived at the scene after learning that her sister had been shot.

“I came here and she was still breathing. I really don’t know what happened, all I know is she was shot through the head,” Banthan said.

She described Hofman, a mother of two, as warm and humorous.

“She was a very nice person who was full of jokes. She was a lovely person,” she said.

Banthan said she had not yet told Hofman’s youngest child, who is 14, that his mother had died.

“I am broken. Anne just celebrated her 44th birthday on Monday,” she said.

According to information being investigated by police, four armed men arrived in a white Nissan Almera with tinted windows. They allegedly got out, approached the victims and opened fire before fleeing.

Western Cape police said the motive had not been established. Investigators were, however, following up information about a possible gang-related motive.

Lynn Phillips of the Cape Flats Safety Forum said she believed the shooting was linked to an ongoing turf war between rival gangs.

“This has been a clear hit that happened here,” Phillips said.

She also alleged that the house near the scene was a “pela pos” — a known drug or gang house — and said it had been on the radar of former station commander Jeremy Vearey since 2004.

Phillips said children and residents were being exposed to repeated shootings, particularly during the school holidays.

She renewed her call for specialised policing units to be deployed at station level in areas affected by persistent gang violence.

“I am also urging the NPA to not release these people on bail, people found with guns or found guilty of killing, so that we don't have repeat offenders on the streets again,” she said.

Ian Cameron also raised concern about the impact of violent crime on children.

“Innocent children are constantly exposed to this type of violence and they are forced to grow up in these types of environments,” Cameron said.

He said territorial disputes remained a concern in the area and called for integrity testing to ensure that people running policing operations were not linked to gangs.

Detectives attached to the Anti-Gang Unit are investigating the killings. They are canvassing the area for CCTV footage and witnesses who may have seen the suspects or their vehicle.

Western Cape Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant-General Sizakhele Dyantyi expressed concern over the loss of life and called on investigators to identify and arrest those responsible.

No arrests had been announced by Thursday morning. The investigation is continuing.