Seven Killed in Early-Morning Shooting Near Cape Town

Seven people were shot dead in a township on the outskirts of Cape Town in the early hours of Saturday, in an attack police believe is linked to extortion.

The incident is the latest in a series of mass shootings that have unsettled South Africa, a country of about 63 million people struggling with persistent violent crime.

“Police are investigating a shooting incident in Marikana that claimed the lives of seven people — one woman and six men aged between 30 and 50,” police said in a statement.

The attack occurred shortly after midnight and left three other people injured. Police said the shooting was “believed to be linked to extortion in the area”.

“The suspects fled the scene and no arrests have been made,” police added, noting that a manhunt is under way and investigations are continuing.

South Africa, the continent’s most industrialised country, continues to battle deep-rooted crime and corruption fueled by organised criminal networks. Police data show that an average of about 63 people were killed daily between July and September last year.

In December, two separate mass shootings — one at a hostel and another at a bar — claimed the lives of 24 people, including several children.

Saturday’s attack took place in the Cape Flats area, known for gang-related violence, where more than 2,000 murders were recorded in the first nine months of 2025.

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