More police deployed in Reiger Park after deadly mass shooting

More police boots have been deployed on the ground following the visit by SAPS National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola to the crime-hit community on Sunday. This comes after six people were gunned down and three others injured in a drive-by shooting over the weekend.

Masemola said an external investigating team will be assigned to the Reiger Park police station amid allegations of police corruption and collusion with gangs. On Monday he boosted the local investigating team and directed that additional detectives, crime intelligence officers, and tactical units be stationed in the area to track down the suspects behind the brutal killings.

“We are strengthening our presence and intensifying the investigation. The people of Reiger Park deserve safety and justice,” said Masemola.

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, who accompanied Masemola to the area, called on the police to hunt down and arrest the killers of the three women and three men. Among those wounded was a toddler. Lesufi said the provincial government would work with SAPS to ensure that the perpetrators face the full might of the law.

The Saturday night attack has left the community in shock and fear. According to witnesses, gunmen believed to be gang members drove in two VW Polos and opened fire on residents gathered outside homes. The hail of bullets left bodies scattered on the streets, prompting widespread panic and grief.

By Monday morning, several police vehicles were stationed outside the Reiger Park police station, and more patrols were visible throughout the community. Residents said they hoped the visible presence would prevent further bloodshed.

One resident, who thanked Masemola and Lesufi for visiting the area, said their presence made a huge difference. “The situation is calm now with the police around. I want to thank General Masemola and Premier Lesufi for visiting. It showed that they care about our community,” she said. “The families of the victims are broken. We hope the authorities will also visit them and help them cope with their pain.”

The City of Ekurhuleni confirmed that acting mayor Jongizizwe Dlabathi would visit the families of the victims and pay his respects. Dlabathi urged the community to work closely with police to help identify and capture the killers. “We call on residents to come forward with information. These criminals must be found and brought to justice,” he said.

Police have not made any arrests yet, but investigations are ongoing. Detectives are combing the area for clues and reviewing surveillance footage in hopes of tracing the vehicles used in the attack.

Some community members said they had become accustomed to gun violence in the area and many cases go unreported. Family members of the deceased said they are demanding justice and fear that without swift action, the perpetrators might strike again. “We want arrests. We do not want our loved ones to become just another statistic,” said one relative.

Gun Free South Africa (GFSA) has condemned the shooting and called for urgent government action to stop gun violence. GFSA Chief Executive Officer Dr Stanley Maphosa said the organisation was deeply saddened by the killings. “These are not numbers. These are parents, children, siblings, and friends. Their lives have been violently cut short,” he said.

Maphosa said the Reiger Park shooting was another reminder of South Africa’s gun violence crisis. “Legal guns leak into the illegal market, get stolen, and end up being used in massacres like this. We must close these loopholes,” he said.

He urged the government to fully implement and strengthen the Firearms Control Act and to fast-track the Firearms Control Amendment Bill. “We cannot continue to treat mass shootings as normal. South Africa needs real firearm governance and accountability now,” Maphosa said.

He added that every illegal gun started as a legal one and that the government must improve firearm tracing, storage control, and oversight. “If nothing changes, communities like Reiger Park will continue to live in fear,” he said.

Investigations are continuing.