News24 | Bloody week: Girl, 15, killed in ‘crossfire’ among 7 murders recorded in Cape Town

Zarrah Jackson, 15, was shot while walking to the shop in Rywood Road, Hanover Park, on Friday morning.

• A 15-year-old teenager was shot dead on Friday in ongoing gang violence in Hanover Park.
• She is among six people shot and killed in separate incidents this week.
• Police are investigating the murders.

Western Cape police had their hands full this week, with at least seven murders recorded in Cape Town.

Two people, including a 15-year-old girl, were shot dead in what police believe to be gang-related incidents. 

On Friday morning, Zarrah Jackson, 15, was shot while walking to the shop in Rywood Road, Hanover Park.

She was a grade 9 pupil at Crystal High School.

READ | Cape Town man's head found in a gift bag two streets away from his body 

Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg said police were called to the scene at 08:00 after reports of a teenager caught in crossfires between rival gangs.

"She was taken to a medical facility for medical treatment, where she was declared deceased due to the injury sustained to her neck. The suspect/s are yet to be arrested," Twigg said. 

In a heartfelt post on the social media platform Facebook, the school penned their condolences to her family, friends and classmates. 

"We wish to express our sincere condolences to her family, classmates and friends on the loss of such a young soul," the post read.

Community policing forum (CPF) spokesperson Kashiefa Mohammed said the ongoing gang war has always been of great concern.

She said the residents in the area are growing increasingly angry that innocent children are killed for no reason while perpetrators are roaming the streets. 

"This is an internal fight among gangsters fighting over drug turf, and [the] leadership in this community are crazy. We are gatvol of all these killings. Why must women and children get shot and killed daily? For what?" she asked.

READ | Three shot dead in Cape Town hours after Cele briefed media on mass shootings in province 

Mohammed said community marches calling for an end to the ongoing violence have not fazed gangsters at all. 

"These gangsters disrespect our community and the police. We have many incidents where some community members are covering up for these gangsters, and this must come to an end.

"Taking a life away permanently is the most cruel act in the world, but to have people cover up the wrongdoings, that is vile," said Mohammed. According to the CPF, gangsters are taking over the streets and society, and they don't care who they kill. 

She said:

In the second incident believed to be gang-related, Twigg said the body of a 21-year-old man was found with gunshot wounds just after 04:00 in Cascade Road, Tafelsig, on Saturday.

 "The victim was declared deceased on the scene by medical personnel. The motive for the attack is gang-related, and a murder case was registered," Twigg said. 

On Monday night, the body of a decapitated man was discovered on the corner of Greyville and Metropolitan streets in Beacon Valley, Mitchells Plain. 

A resident found the man's head two streets away in a gift bag. Police said the circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

On Tuesday, six gunmen shot dead three men aged 29, 30 and 44 while sitting in their vehicle in Fountain Heads, New Beginnings, Mfuleni.

"It is believed that six armed men approached the three victims and opened fire, killing all three," police spokesperson Colonel Andre Traut said. Police said the suspects allegedly fled in a Toyota Avanza.

Mfuleni CPF chairperson Anthony Parish said all three victims were known drug dealers. 

"That was a drug-related killing. All hitmen and all killed are drug dealers from the New Beginnings area. The investigation is still continuing, and no arrests have been made yet," Parish said. 

READ | Businessman dies in hail of bullets in apparent hit in Cape Town

On Wednesday, Palestinian businessman Shafiq Nasser, 38, was shot and killed when men on a motorbike opened fire on him on the corner of Bosmansdam and Omuramba roads, near Montague Gardens, in Cape Town. 

"According to [a police] report, a motorcycle stopped next to the victim and the rider fired several shots at him. The victim was declared deceased on the scene by medical personnel. The motive for the attack is yet to be established," said Twigg. 

Nasser owned multiple businesses, including Naser Constructions. 

Insiders close to the investigation, who did not want to be named, previously told News24 that Nasser had been out of the country and returned on Tuesday evening. News24 reported that video footage of the incident shows two men stopping at the traffic lights next to a black Mercedes G-Wagon.

Nasser was driving the black G-Wagon. Once the light turned green, the two men made a U-turn, circled next to the vehicle, and opened fire. 

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Sources said that Nasser was found with a large amount of money in his possession after the shooting. It's understood he had gone to the bank before the incident.  Police said the circumstances surrounding the murder are still under investigation. By Saturday afternoon, Twigg said there were no new developments in the case. 

Police said anyone with information on the murders can call Crime Stop on 08600 10111.