A horrific incident unfolded in Delft, Cape Town on Friday night, leaving a 42-year-old man and his 19-year-old daughter dead in their home.
The victims were shot and killed during a home invasion in their Nata Court residence in the Leiden suburb. The attack, which saw unknown gunmen force entry into the house, has left the community reeling and highlights the ongoing challenges of violent crime in the area.
According to Sergeant Wesley Twigg, Western Cape police spokesperson, the incident began with gunshots fired outside the house.
“According to reports, the victims were at home when they heard gunshots…outside their house. Unknown gunmen then entered the house and shot the male and female before fleeing the scene,” he stated.
Emergency services declared both victims deceased at the scene.
However, a third occupant of the house, a 40-year-old woman, miraculously survived the attack. Jacky Ockhuizen, spokesperson for the Delft community policing forum (CPF), attributed her survival to quick thinking and bravery. “The [surviving] woman suffered injuries to her eyes after glass splinters flew into her face when the windows were smashed,” he explained.
Ockhuizen detailed the terrifying events: “We understand that one suspect put his hand through the broken window to open the door and enter the dwelling. Meanwhile, the woman was busy in the bathroom when she heard the shots. She threw herself on the floor and pretended to be dead.” While the gunmen were inside, the woman lay still, playing dead, until they left.
The surviving woman's partner and his daughter, who was visiting from the Eastern Cape for the holidays, were both fatally wounded. Ockhuizen revealed the brutal nature of the attack: “Her partner was killed, and his daughter…was also killed. Both father and daughter were shot twice through the head.” The motive for the attack remains unclear, with nothing stolen from the house.
Ockhuizen expressed his hope for swift justice: “The circumstances regarding this shooting incident are still unknown. The matter is still under investigation, and we trust the police to make arrests soon. The suspects fled the scene, and nothing was taken from the home.” This suggests the attack may have been motivated by something other than robbery.
Delft detectives are currently investigating cases of murder and attempted murder. Police are appealing to the public for any information that could assist in their investigation. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
