Police escorted schoolchildren and teachers home on the Cape Flats this week after gang violence that left three people dead, the Cape Times reported on Thursday.
Its website said residents in Hanover Park were also afraid to leave their homes.
Rival gangs in the area, The Americans and the Ghettos, ended three years of relative peace on Sunday when a gun battle started in ”back streets”, said community policing forum members.
Most of the shooting happened between Ryston and Lansport roads, with Mountview High School becoming a battleground for rival gang members.
A member of the Ghettos was killed on Sunday evening, leading to a revenge attack on Monday which left two dead, he said.
He warned reporters not to visit the area, as ”bullets are flying and children are too afraid to play in the streets”.
Reinforcements from the SA police, Metro Police and the Provincial Crime Prevention Unit were deployed to the area.
Police spokesperson Bernadine Steyn confirmed that two friends, Ebrahim Williams (20) and Quinton Ontong (22) were shot and killed on Monday.
On Tuesday, teachers and pupils were escorted out of Mountview High School under police guard when two armed gangsters were seen running through the school grounds.
Police officers were asked to be present at all intervals during school hours.
Philippi Police acting station commander Llewellyn Kleinhans said the two gangs had agreed on a ceasefire on Wednesday, although the situation remained tense.
The police would maintain a presence until stability returned. – Sapa