STELLENBOSCH, South Africa — Elite detectives from the Western Cape Serious and Violent Crimes Unit have launched a massive manhunt following a wave of bloodshed that left seven people dead over the weekend in the Kayamandi informal settlement on the outskirts of Stellenbosch.
The separate attacks, which resulted in the deaths of six men and one woman, have sent shockwaves through the community.
According to South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa, the fatal shootings occurred across five distinct incidents scattered through the township.
The violence began on Friday evening, May 22, 2026, when four separate shooting incidents broke out in quick succession. The violence spilled into the following morning, with a fifth and final shooting reported early Saturday, May 23, 2026.
First responders arriving at the various crime scenes discovered multiple victims with severe gunshot wounds. Despite emergency medical intervention, seven individuals succumbed to their injuries.
With five separate crime scenes to process, provincial serious violent crime detectives are working around the clock to determine whether the killings are interconnected or the result of a single group of perpetrators.
At this stage, authorities have not publicly revealed the identities of the deceased, nor have they released details regarding the specific weapons used in the attacks.
“The motive for the crimes is the subject of a police investigation currently underway,” Potelwa stated. “No arrests have been effected yet, and the investigations continue.”
Kayamandi and the broader Stellenbosch municipality have faced a concerning trend of violent crime and localized shootings over the past year. Community leaders and activists have frequently called for increased police visibility, specialized tactical deployments, and stricter law enforcement measures within historically under-resourced informal settlements.
SAPS has urged anyone with information regarding the shootings, suspicious vehicle movements, or potential suspects in the Kayamandi area over the weekend to immediately contact the Crime Stop hotline. Investigators have assured the public that all tips can be provided anonymously.
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