Cape Town - Portfolio committee on police chairperson Ian Cameron accompanied by ward councillor Ashley Potts yesterday visited the families of the boys who died in a hail of bullets in Rocklands at the weekend.
Diego Cupido, 15, Luke Middleway, 15, and Clayton Sterris, 17, were among six teenagers who were shot at while standing in a park in Bosduif Road, just after 7pm on Friday.
The three teenagers did not survive, while the others were rushed to hospital.
Cameron described the shooting as a tragic loss of lives and added that there were major concerns about the increase in violence, especially involving teenagers.
“There are several potential reasons for the increase in shootings involving young children but what's worrying is that the kids involved are getting younger and younger,” he said.
Cameron referred to the shooters, and said many times it was found that young children were responsible.
“We are also seeing an increase in gang recruiting, it's been a problem for a long time but now there seems to be an increase, and most of the time we see these children being abused or forced into joining a gang because the older guys don't want to take the risk, so they let the young ones do their dirty work.”
Potts earlier helped the families to the morgue, where the bodies of the boys were identified.
He said the shooting has left the whole community in mourning.
“No one should lose a loved one in such a manner,” Potts said.
After the shooting, the community also rallied together, where concerns were raised with police and other safety structures.
One of these concerned safety around spaza shops.
“Many have complained about spaza shop hangouts and shop owners are also fed up with people hanging around at the shop,” said Potts.
tracy-lynn.ruiters@inl.co.za
Cape Argus