Two Murders in Athlone Raise Community Safety Concerns
Athlone, Cape Town – A series of shootings in Athlone on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, have left two men dead and a woman injured, sparking fears about community safety and prompting calls for increased police patrols.
The first incident occurred around 6:00 AM on St Athans Road. According to police spokesperson Warrant Officer Zita Norman, an unknown female directed police to a man who had been shot multiple times. The victim was transported to a hospital for treatment but later died from his injuries. Six cartridges were found at the scene, and the motive is believed to be gang-related.
Later that evening, at approximately 10:10 PM, another shooting took place on the corners of Belgravia Road and Voël Street in Belgravia. A man was gunned down in a hail of bullets, and a bystander – a woman – was shot in the leg. Police spokesperson Thembakazi Mpendukana confirmed that officers responded to an alert about the incident and found the man already deceased. The injured woman was rushed to the nearest hospital.
Sources close to the investigation reportedly indicated that eleven cartridges were recovered from the scene of the second shooting. These sources also stated that the deceased man was a witness in a murder case being investigated by Athlone SAPS. The circumstances surrounding both shootings are currently under investigation, and no arrests have been made as of today, .
The shootings have prompted Judges Matter to call for intensified South African Police Service (SAPS) patrols in the area. The organization expressed concern following the double murder that occurred outside the Athlone court, though it is not clear if this incident is directly related to the shootings on Wednesday.
These incidents come after a woman was murdered in a drive-by shooting in Heideveld on Women’s Day, further highlighting the ongoing violence in the Cape Town area.
Police are continuing their investigations into both shootings and are appealing for information that may assist in bringing the perpetrators to justice. Thembakazi Mpendukana stated that the investigation into the Belgravia Road shooting is ongoing.
Five arrests have been made in connection with brutal murders in Philippi East, though it is currently unknown if these arrests are related to the recent violence in Athlone.
