Residents of Steenberg and its neighbouring communities are finding their voices in the midst of an intensifying wave of shootings connected to the Junky Funky Kids gang. The southern suburbs have recently endured a surge of violent crime, with Steenberg, Retreat, and Lavender Hill residents describing a constant sense of being under siege.
The conflict has been marked by a series of deadly incidents. On Monday, a 17-year-old was shot dead in Retreat, while two men in their twenties sustained injuries in the same attack. Only hours later, two more men were gunned down in Steenberg. Just days after, another killing shook Retreat when a young man was executed in broad daylight.
According to police, the latest victim, a 26-year-old man, was standing on 12th Avenue in Retreat when a red vehicle pulled up alongside him. Shots were fired from inside the car, fatally wounding him before the assailants fled the scene. Medical personnel declared the victim dead where he fell.
Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed that officers are treating the matter as a murder investigation.
“Steenberg police responded to a complaint of a shooting on Wednesday afternoon, 10 September 2025, at about 14:25, in 12th Avenue, Retreat, and upon arrival on the scene they found the body of a 26-year-old male who sustained gunshot wounds.
According to reports the victim was standing in the road when a red vehicle stopped next to him and the occupant of the vehicle started shooting at him before fleeing the scene.
The victim was declared deceased on the scene by medical personnel. The motive for the attack is gang related.
A murder case was registered for investigation.”
In response to the escalating violence, law enforcement visibility has increased. Both the South African Police Service and the City’s Law Enforcement officers have intensified patrols in hot-spot areas across the Steenberg precinct.
Public Relations Officer for the Steenberg Community Police Forum, Nicola Small, expressed cautious optimism about recent developments.
“Following the recent spate of shootings in the Steenberg precinct, SAPS and Law Enforcement have increased their presence in the area.
Lately we’ve also seen more people in the community coming forward with information, that’s encouraging, and I hope it’s the start of residents taking back their communities. I always appeal to people to speak up, not be complacent, and not allow the ‘progress’ of these gangs. And I have been seeing a shift.”
Small’s remarks highlight a shift in community behaviour, where silence once ruled. Residents appear more determined to resist the culture of fear created by gangs.
The recent killings point to a broader problem that extends beyond territorial disputes. Families have been left traumatised, while children grow up surrounded by violence that threatens to normalise such crime. The community remains in mourning, yet the collective voice against gangsterism seems to be strengthening.
While fear still stalks the streets of Retreat and Steenberg, the willingness of residents to come forward with information could mark a turning point. Police have called for this momentum to continue, noting that reliable information is one of the most effective weapons against organised crime.
As the violence deepens, questions inevitably arise about whether there is sufficient political will from those tasked with leading both the province and the police service. Residents have long complained that gang violence is treated as an intermittent crisis rather than an entrenched social emergency.
While law enforcement patrols increase in moments of heightened conflict, many wonder if there is a genuine long-term strategy to dismantle these criminal networks. Is the leadership within the Western Cape provincial government and the South African Police Service truly committed to addressing the root causes of gangsterism, or are communities left to bear the brunt of political inaction and fragmented policing efforts?
Authorities have urged anyone with knowledge about the latest shooting or other gang-related crimes to come forward.
“Police are appealing to anyone with any information about this shooting incident to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111.”
