WESTERN CAPE - Criminals in the Western Cape are killing the Christmas spirit despite Western Cape police confiscating multiple illegal firearms just this month.
About a dozen people were shot in the days leading up to Christmas. It is reported that more than half of them died.
Even on Christmas Day, the bullets flew.
Western Cape police spokesperson, FC Van Wyk, reported that the police are investigating two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.
"Circumstances surrounding a shooting incident on Thursday, 2025-12-25 at 05:40 at the corner of Wesbank Main and Silversands Road, Wesbank, are under investigation. Two males aged 22 and 35 were shot and fatally wounded. Both died in hospital due to injuries sustained, and a woman sustained a gunshot wound to the right foot."
While the motive is still unclear, Van Wyk says the police believe the crimes to be gang related.
In another incident that took place on Christmas Eve in Delft, police responded to an incident in Delft where two men were severely beaten.
According to Van Wyk, two males, 31 and 37, were found beaten in what is believed to be a vigilante attack. The 31-year-old soon succumbed to the injuries upon being admitted to a local hospital in Delft, while the 37-year-old was transferred to another hospital for further medical treatment.
"According to reports SAPS members attended to a complaint at Delft day hospital. On arrival medical personnel pointed out the body of the deceased with multiple wounds all over his body. It was reported that there were two males who was assaulted and dropped at the day hospital by unknown community members."
The victim told police that they were assaulted by community members who accused them of stealing.
The SAPS condemns vigilantism, reminding communities that taking the law into their own hands is a crime.