An 18-year-old girl was tragically shot dead in Cape Town, South Africa, while running errands for her grandmother.
Bronwin van Willing, from The Hague in Delft, was sent to a local tuck shop to buy bread on Wednesday, 8th January 2025. However, she was gunned down by unknown assailants as she returned home.
Van Willing was due to start Grade 11 at Delft High School the following week and was excited about the upcoming school year.
Her sister, Lauren, described Bronwin as a “joyful person” who was always laughing and joking. “She was very excited as she was about to start Grade 11 this year. She still told us we need to do her hair for school,” Lauren said.
The attack occurred when gunmen opened fire on Van Willing as she walked home. “My grandmother sent her to the shop to buy a bread. As she was coming back a car was in the road and started shooting. As she was running, they were running after her,” Lauren recounted. “It was like they were chasing her because she saw who was shooting. She was first shot in the back. But then he came and shot her in the face.”
Western Cape police spokesperson, Captain Frederick van Wyk, confirmed the shooting incident in Junker Street, The Hague. The vehicle used in the shooting was later found abandoned, having been hijacked in Bishop Lavis in July 2024.
No arrests have been made, and the investigation is ongoing.
