Three Children Killed In Barbershop Shooting

Police in the Western Cape, South Africa, have detained two people in connection with the murders of three children and a man at a Khayelitsha barbershop.

The three children, Lunge Chomo, Enzokuhle Dladlu, and Lichume Ngeni, were killed by the gunmen on Saturday, June 8, 2024, when they entered the barbershop and allegedly queried the occupants about someone who had a firearm before firing shots.

The shootings took place in a Toyota Quantum. Nine attempted killings have also been connected to the accused, who are 24 and 28 years old.

Wednesday, June 12th, saw the confirmation of the arrest by Brigadier Novela Potelwa, the spokesperson for Western Cape police.

“Western Cape Serious Violent Crime detectives have been hard at work following a shooting incident that was perpetrated by gunmen at a barber shop on Saturday afternoon in Qwarha Street in Site C, Khayelitsha,” said Potelwa.

“Three children aged five, 11 and 12 as well as a 30-year-old man died from the shooting and seven others were seriously injured. Two other individuals were unharmed.”

According to Potelwa, it is not impossible that more arrests and charges will be made as the investigation progresses.

“Investigations into another multiple murder shooting incident that occurred in Nyanga on Sunday continue and no arrests have been affected yet.”

Reagen Allen, the Western Cape MEC for Police Oversight and Community Safety at the time of the incident, urged police to conduct a thorough investigation.

“We need to ensure that they are swiftly arrested so that a conviction can follow. Life should never be this cheap. SAPS should employ every ounce of their intelligence. I urge anyone with information to make it available to all law enforcement agencies so that justice can be done.”

According to police, the accused are scheduled to appear for the first time on Friday, June 14, in the Khayelitsha Magistrate’s Court.

Four-year-old Enzokuhle was playing with her friends close to the scene when she was shot, according to her devastated grandma Sheila Dladlu.

“We heard the gunshots and then when the suspects were done shooting, I went outside and saw Enzokuhle walk very slowly. I could tell she was injured.

“She fell on the ground and when she got up she was staggering and I could see the blood on her clothes.

“Her mother went to pick her up and ran to catch a taxi and I noticed my neighbour’s child was also shot and we all went to the hospital.”

The upset woman believes Enzokuhle passed away while in her arms.

“I couldn’t tell my daughter that I could see that she wasn’t alive any more. The doctors tried to resuscitate her but that didn’t help.”

“She had been shot in the right side of the chest and the bullet travelled and ruptured her kidney.

“While we had just heard the dreaded news from the doctors, we saw more people being admitted to the hospital from the same shooting.”

When they went to the barbershop, Lichume Ngeniin was reportedly playing with her toddler, according to Xoliswa Ngeni, a neighbour.

“The shooters asked for the person who had a gun and no one answered and so they started shooting and my niece Lichume was shot in the leg,” Ngeni said.

According to police spokesperson André Traut, the circumstances are being looked into.

“Two children, aged 11 and 12, and an adult aged 30 were killed on the scene while three children were admitted to hospital,” he said.

“The 4-year-old later succumbed to death due to her injuries.

“The suspects fled the scene and are yet to be apprehended. The motive for the incident is yet to be determined.”

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli