Gang violence rocked Gqeberha’s northern areas at the weekend, leaving at least five people dead and seven wounded in what has been described as the bloodiest two days in recent years.
As investigations into the five separate shootings continue, a heightened police presence was visible in the affected neighbourhoods, with armed members of the anti-gang unit patrolling the streets in vehicles.
A mourning family gathered at the Deal Party lighthouse, where Alviro Isaacs, 30, of Arcadia, was shot dead in the early hours of Saturday.
They placed flowers at the site where he was shot multiple times.
Isaacs had deep roots in Arcadia.
His shooting was the first of the five incidents on Saturday and Sunday.
Stop Northern Areas Shootings Facebook page administrator Gaby Marley said the community was in shock over the string of shootings.
“It’s been a good couple of years since we’ve had so much violence in such a short time,” Marley said.
“I am in shock. In fact, the entire community is in shock.”
He said besides the five incidents confirmed by the police, there were reports of a further five unconfirmed fatalities across the 17 WhatsApp groups he managed.
“We are in desperate need of more visible policing,” Marley said.
“We call on all law enforcement agencies to assist with the necessary resources to properly patrol the affected areas and stop the violence that keeps our people in fear.”
Isaacs died after being shot multiple times at a fishing spot near the Deal Party lighthouse, widely known as Smelly Creek.
Police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu said a white VW Polo Vivo had been driven to the lighthouse and parked there at about 1am.
“At about 3am, a bakkie drove in and parked behind the VW Polo Vivo.
“Three men jumped out and started to shoot at the person in the VW Polo Vivo.”
She said the driver of the VW Polo Vivo had run off, but the shooters had given chase and opened fire.
The body was later identified as Isaacs.
Naidu said police were investigating a case of murder.
The investigation has since been taken over by the provincial organised crime investigations unit specialising in gang investigations.
About 50 of Isaacs’s relatives gathered near the lighthouse on Sunday and prayed together.
Those present included his parents, Neville Stanley and Michelle Isaacs.
Several siblings, aunts, uncles and cousins also attended.
They all stood in a circle and held hands as they were led in prayer by a pastor and family friend before a few bricks were stacked on top of each other, with a bunch of roses placed on top.
One by one, family members stood by the makeshift headstone and when it was her turn, flanked by other family members, Isaacs’s mother burst into tears, wailing.
“Out of respect for Alviro’s mother and the rest of our family, I think it would be best if we talk about the incident at a later stage,” Stanley said after the memorial service.
The family also indicated that many of them feared for their lives.
This, is after a second shooting on the doorstep of Stanley’s Arcadia home just a few hours after his son’s death.
At about 5pm on Saturday, the body of a man was found lying next to a VW Golf in Imbuia Street.
He had been shot multiple times.
While the police were still at the scene, they were told there was a second body in a field near Oosthuizen Street — a stone’s throw from Imbuia Street.
“They also learnt that a third person was also allegedly shot and taken to hospital by ambulance, while a fourth person managed to escape unhurt,” Naidu said.
She said the names of the deceased could not be released as their next of kin had still to be notified.
Naidu said while there was no clear link between the two incidents at this stage, the investigation had been taken over by the gang investigations team.
However, sources said that the two men had been close friends of Isaacs who had visited his father to pay their respects shortly before they were shot.
In another shooting, Keagan Jansen, 18, was killed in the early hours of Sunday.
According to the police, he was chased through the streets of Malabar at about 1.30am.
He ran into a garden, where he was then shot multiple times.
Gelvandale detectives are investigating a case of murder.
Less than an hour later, at about 2.25am, police arrived in Venus Street, Barcelona, after being notified about a shooting.
They found the body of Charlton Minnies, 27, in the street with gunshot wounds to the head and neck.
A second person was shot in the mouth and neck and taken to hospital.
Police are investigating cases of murder and attempted murder.
In another incident, shortly after 5am on Sunday, four men were wounded at a house in Van Duuren Street.
“As they entered the yard, they were approached by three men, who started firing at them,” Naidu said.
The victims, aged between 25 and 48, were taken to hospital. Their condition is unknown at this stage.
Naidu said the police were investigating attempted murder.
Bay mayor Retief Odendaal said the municipality would make all resources available to assist the police in restoring order in the northern areas.
“I have spoken to the Nelson Mandela Bay police district commissioner Major-General Vuyisile Ncata, and called for a 72-hour activation plan.
He said the city, along with safety and security political head Lawrence Troon, have offered the city’s support to track down the killers.
“Ncata has assured me that the police, are prioritising the violence in the northern areas and that he will provide feedback on an activation plan,” Odendaal said.
“Troon and his team will monitor the situation closely, to ensure collaboration between the different spheres of government — and that law and order is returned to these communities”
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