A Grieving father is struggling to come to grips with the loss of his only daughter who was shot and killed just a day after her birthday in a mass shooting in Parkwood on Sunday.
Mother of one Samantha Carelse, 26, and four other victims were shot inside a premises in Ivy Road, Parkwood, on Sunday evening around 6pm.
Carelse and a 28-year-old man did not survive the attack, while three other victims were wounded and transported to hospital.
When the Cape Argus' sister publication, the Daily Voice spoke to father, Mark Carelse, he said that they had just celebrated her birthday the day before the tragedy.
He said: “The saddest part is that my daughter celebrated her 26th birthday on Saturday.
“I still wished and kissed her and the next day, she was dead.
“She is my only daughter, and I have five sons. She has a son who is still in Primary School and he is about nine or 10 years old.
“She was addicted to drugs but she was not involved in any gangsterism.”
The heartbroken father learned of her death from his sons after he returned from work.
He explained: "I was coming from work when my son came running to me and said 'pa hulle het vir Samantha geskiet' (dad they shot Samantha) and that was when I rushed to the scene.
“When I got to the scene, I found out that inside the property, where the shooting took place, is a wendy house where they were shot.
“Samantha and the 28-year-old man were shot dead inside the house and another woman was wounded.
“I heard the suspects arrived in a blue Polo. I don’t know what the motive is for these murders.
“I am still trying to understand the circumstances surrounding this incident.”
Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed that the matter is under investigation and no arrests have been made as yet.
Twigg reported: “Grassy Park police are investigating two counts of murder and three of attempted murder following a shooting incident on November 16 2025, at about 6pm, in Ivy Road, Parkwood, in which a 26-year-old female and a 28-year -old male were shot and fatally wounded and three other victims wounded.
“Police members attended the crime scene at the mentioned address where they found the victims with gunshot wounds to their bodies.
“The 26 and 28-year-old victims were declared deceased on the scene by medical personnel, while the other victims were taken to a medical facility for treatment.
“The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation and arrests are yet to be made. The motive for the attack forms part of the police investigation.”
Police are appealing to anyone with any information about this shooting incident to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the mobile application MySAPS anonymously.
Cape Argus