Sources in the gang underworld report that the hits on two alleged members of the 26s were ordered from prison.
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Friday’s fatal shooting of a suspected gangster outside the Goodwood Magistrate’s Court, just days after a failed attempt on the life of a man believed to be a high-ranking member of the same gang, has sparked fears that a prison numbers gang war is brewing.
Sources in the gang underworld report that the hits on the two alleged members of the 26s – one of whom was Colin Booysen, brother of the alleged leader of the Sexy Boys gang – were ordered from prison.
There was pandemonium outside the court on Friday when 48-year-old William Gouws, a suspected 26s member, was gunned down moments before appearing on a charge of possession of ammunition. He was out on bail of R1 000 and had left the court and crossed Voortrekker Road, when two men approached him and opened fire.
A witness told Weekend Argus he saw two men running across the field from the railway line. Four shots were fired in quick succession, and as Gouws fell forward on to the pavement, the suspects fled on foot.
According to insiders, the tension is between the 26s and the 28s, which is currently plagued by internal leadership strife.
On Thursday, in the first attack, Booysen was shot multiple times in the “upper and lower body”.
Booysen, brother of Jerome “Donkie” Booysen,
is believed to be a 26s member and a co-leader of the Sexy Boys, in Belhar.
Police say Booysen’s attackers were driving a white Toyota Tazz, and according to reports they first chatted to Booysen before opening fire on him moments after he arrived home.
He survived the attack, and underwent emergency surgery at Mediclinic Louis Leipoldt the same day.
Police spokesperson Colonel Tembinkosi Kinana said on Friday night that no arrests had been made in the Booysen attack.
A case of murder had been opened in the shooting of Gouws, and no arrests had been made.
Community Safety MEC Dan Plato called for calm, warning that a full-scale gang war would have a devastating effect on the public. - Weekend Argus