Police have launched an investigation into a triple murder after three Ethiopian men were shot dead while having breakfast at a restaurant in the Johannesburg central business district on Tuesday morning.
The shooting occurred around 9:00 a.m., according to authorities. Two gunmen entered the establishment where the victims — all males between the ages of 30 and 45 — were eating, opened fire, and then fled the scene. No arrests have been made, and police have not yet identified any suspects.
Ward councillor Sthembiso Hlatshwayo expressed urgent concern over escalating violence in the inner city, stating that such incidents have become disturbingly routine.
“This is not the first time. Each and every week there is this kind of shooting,” Hlatshwayo said. “Yesterday they shot another one down the road. This thing is actually happening each and every day.”
The councillor revealed that he wrote a letter to the premier last year requesting a public meeting on crime, but received no response. He intends to send another letter to the premier on Wednesday morning seeking intervention from the provincial government, and will also engage with the new Member of the Mayoral Committee for community safety.
“People are afraid in the inner city because they are murdered left and right. They kidnap them, they are shooting each other,” Hlatshwayo said. “Even myself, I’m afraid to walk around.”
Regarding surveillance measures, Hlatshwayo acknowledged that cameras have been installed in the area but said response times remain dangerously slow. He cited the shooting of DJ Warras in the inner city as a previous case where emergency response took too long.
“We need a permanent solution for this thing,” he said. “It seems like now there are gangsters within the inner city because they are killing each other each and every day.”
The councillor has scheduled a meeting for Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. at a location called Fashion Capital, bringing together JMPD, SAPS, and local shop owners to address the crisis. He also noted that non-compliant structures along the busy street — one of Johannesburg’s most dangerous thoroughfares — are contributing to the problem. Last week, he conducted a walkabout with the city manager and MMCs, and officials have been instructed to seek a court order to demolish illegal structures.
“If you are in Johannesburg and you want to come to Small Street, you will know it’s not going to be easy for you,” a reporter noted from the scene. “You need to be sure about your safety as well.”
The families of the deceased were present at the scene earlier in the day but have since left. Police continue to investigate, and authorities have urged anyone with information to come forward.