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Tragic Shooting in Bonteheuwel: Three-Month-Old Allegedly Used as Human Shield Dies
Cape Town, Western Cape – A three-month-old baby boy was fatally shot in Bonteheuwel on Friday morning, August 22, 2025, in what authorities believe was a gang-related attack. According to Ward Councillor Angus McKenzie, the infant was allegedly used as a human shield during a targeted shooting.
McKenzie reported that the child was in the arms of a man, believed to be a target of rival gang members, when gunmen opened fire in a home on Yellowwood Street around 07:45. The baby sustained critical injuries and was rushed to a nearby hospital. “He was in a critical state.
They managed to resuscitate the child, bringing a lot of hope. Unfortunately, as the child was being prepared to be transported to Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, he crashed on the table. Attempts to resuscitate him were fruitless, and unfortunately, the child died,” McKenzie said.
Preliminary investigations suggest that both the man holding the infant and the perpetrators are linked to rival gangs operating in the area. The motive for the attack is believed to be gang-related, with ongoing turf wars plaguing the Cape Flats community.
Western Cape police, under the direction of Bishop Lavis SAPS, have launched a manhunt for the two unidentified gunmen who fled the scene. “One of the men fired a gunshot, leaving the three-month-old baby with serious injuries,” said police spokesperson Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi. “The victim has since been declared deceased by medical personnel.” Authorities are investigating charges of murder and attempted murder.
McKenzie praised the quick response of community members who alerted the City’s emergency services, enabling Metro Police and Law Enforcement to initiate the search for the suspects. However, he criticized the broader policing system, attributing the tragedy to systemic failures. “This tragedy is a direct result of a broken policing system,” McKenzie stated, referencing a recent vote by political parties against a motion that would have granted the City of Cape Town greater powers to combat gangsterism through devolved policing.
The incident has reignited calls for urgent action to address escalating gang violence in Bonteheuwel. Community groups, including the Fight Against Crime (FACSA), condemned the killing and urged for stronger interventions. “FACSA will not allow the injury or death of our children to be used as a political shield. We demand action,” the group stated.
Police are appealing to the public for information to aid in apprehending the suspects. Anyone with details is urged to contact Crime Stop at 08600 10111 or use the MySAPS mobile application anonymously.
This devastating loss underscores the ongoing challenge of gang violence in the Cape Flats, with residents and authorities grappling to restore safety to the community.
