Cape Town - Heritage Day will never be the same again for the families of a 5-year-old boy and a 49-year-old woman who were shot and killed and three other children wounded while sitting in a recreational park on Monday.
Little Keenan Fennie and the woman, identified only as Catherine, were at the park in Spandau Village, Eerste River, when a gunman opened fire.
Police confirmed the woman was declared deceased upon arrival at hospital, while Fennie died later that evening.
Yesterday, shocked residents and ward councillor Frans Sauls gathered at the crime scene for a prayer service for the community and affected families.
“I was carrying out an oversight visit to the park just after 1pm on Monday to see to service issues and the area was quiet. We received the news after 5pm on Monday of what took place. I am awaiting information on what happened but have asked one of the apostles (pastor) to come and pray with us,” said Sauls.
Police spokesperson Wesley Twigg said: “Kleinvlei police responded to a shooting at a recreational park. On arrival on the scene they found the victims with gunshot wounds to their bodies.
“The victims were taken to a medical facility for medical treatment where the 49-year-old victim was declared deceased due to the injuries sustained.
“The motive for the attack is yet to be determined. The suspect fled the scene and is yet to be arrested. We can confirm that the 5-year-old victim passed away in hospital last night (Monday).”
The Cape Argus reached out to Keenan’s family but was told his mother, Lezaan Fennie, was too traumatised to speak to the media.
“She is not able to speak now, she needs time,” a relative said on her behalf. Fennie’s relative, Chesnay Simons, took to Facebook to share how shocked the family were and said that losing a child at the tender age of five was not easy for any mother.
Reverend Dr Llewellyn MacMaster, chairperson of the Cape Crime Crisis Coalition, said the shooting was a reminder of the reality of violence in Cape Town. “Violence ravaging our communities and cutting short the futures of our children and youth is out of control,” he said.
“This happening on the eve of national Heritage Day emphasises the fact that we should work much harder towards a better South Africa, where we can really celebrate the beauty of our diverse cultures, where our children can just be – without fear of violence and crime.
“The Cape Crime Crisis Coalition strongly condemns the killing of an innocent child and the wounding of the three children and woman.
“We call on the SAPS to do everything possible to arrest the perpetrators and bring them to book.
“We call on our communities to take a clear stand against the violence and killings taking place across the Cape Flats week after week.
“We express our deepest and heartfelt condolences to the family of the child who died, and pray for the speedy and full recovery of those who were wounded.”
Cape Argus