The Western Cape’s Anti-Gang Unit were on the end of a devastating ambush from criminals in Nyanga, who opened fire on the police officers during an early morning raid. The shocking confrontation has been coupled with protests in the Philippi township, which have also resulted in the burning of buses and road blockades.

Nyanga police shooting – latest news from Cape Town:

It’s understood that two of the six officers are in a critical condition following the shooting. There has been one successful arrest, but a manhunt has been launched to find the rest of the thugs. This violent scene played out in the Samora Machel region of the settlement.

Nyanga has been dubbed “the murder capital of South Africa” due to the high volume of killings-per-capita. At the backend of 2018, just over 1-in-200 citizens were murder victims. Police spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa revealed to the Cape Times what went down on Wednesday morning:

“The members who were on a tracing operation in Sweet Home Farm informal settlement had just apprehended one suspect allegedly linked to recent murders in Samora Machel.” “As the members were searching for another suspect also sought for a serious crime in the area, shots came from one of the shacks. The area is difficult to access with a terrain that is poorly lit and shacks erected close to each other.” Novela Potelwa

Philippi protests – updates and traffic news

Other serving members of the anti-gang unit have since been offered counselling. Meanwhile, trouble has also erupted just a few kilometres down the road. Residents of Philippi have taken to the streets to voice their discontent, but those grumbles soon turned into life-threatening protest action.

Angered locals have torched three vehicles on Eisleben Road: A Golden Arrow bus, a truck belonging to the City of Cape Town and a car belonging to a private security company. The road remains closed as of 9:00 on Wednesday.