CCN Reporter | – George April
Western Cape:- The tight-knit fishing community of Hawston near Hermanus is reeling after a brutal shooting on Sunday afternoon claimed the lives of two local men and left a third injured, prompting renewed calls for action against spiraling gang violence.
Picture – Crime WhatsApp Group
The victims, identified as Uwellin “Pork” Salies and Vittorio Julies, were gunned down on Linford Street in broad daylight, sending shockwaves through the neighbourhood. A third man, who sustained serious injuries, was rushed to a nearby hospital. Witnesses say the men were standing on the pavement when a white BMW pulled up, and armed individuals jumped out and opened fire without warning.
The attackers fled the scene immediately, leaving residents in panic and disbelief.
Emergency services declared Salies and Julies dead on the scene, with police have launched an investigation into two counts of murder and one of attempted murder.
While the motive remains unclear, the killings have stirred painful memories of past violence in the area. Salies, a figure known to police from previous anti-gang operations, was among those arrested in 2020 in connection with multiple violent crimes. His history, however, does little to soften the blow for those who knew him personally.
“This is not about who they were. It’s about how unsafe we are,” said one resident, who asked to remain anonymous. “Our children are growing up surrounded by fear, and we feel forgotten by the system.”
Photos and videos of the crime scene quickly circulated on social media, reigniting debates about policing, justice, and the future of Hawston’s youth.
Local leaders and community members are now calling for urgent intervention. “We need real support, not just after the blood has dried, but before the next bullet is fired,” said a local pastor who leads youth outreach programs.
Western Cape police spokesperson Sgt Wesley Twigg confirmed the investigation is ongoing, and urged anyone with information to come forward anonymously via Crime Stop at 08600 10111 or the MySAPS mobile app.
As the community gathers to mourn and make sense of the tragedy, the message from Hawston is clear: enough is enough
