3 arrested for shooting in M/Plain; Officials to meet with police commisioner
Western Cape Premier, Alan Winde, and the Western Cape’s Community Safety MEC, Albert Fritz, will be meeting with the Western Cape, Police Commissioner, Major General, Thembisile Patekile, to receive a briefing on the police’s response following a drive-by shooting in Mitchells Plain on Saturday.
Gunmen in a green Honda Ballade fired at people attending a 21st birthday party in Montclair Road, Mandalay. During the shooting, a 24-year-old woman was killed, and seven others aged between 5 and 26 were injured. The attack is believed to be gang-related.
The police have since launched a 72-hour
Activation Plan, which resulted in three people being arrested.
‘’In pursuit of the suspects, Anti-Gang Unit
detectives conducted a tracing operation last (Sunday) night and arrested the
suspects aged 22, 35 and 38 who are all from Mitchells Plain. Once charged, the
suspects are expected to make their court appearances in Mitchells Plain on
charges of murder and attempted murder,’’ said Colonel Andrè Traut
Premier Winde has welcomed the arrest and says
no stone must be left unturned in ensuring that all those responsible are
brought to book.
“We are devastated by the news of this mass
shooting, which claimed the life of one person and injured many others,
including young children. No stone must be left unturned in ensuring that all
those responsible are brought to book and end up behind bars. We will therefore
be meeting with the Provincial Commissioner to receive an update on the
implementation of the 72-hour action plan and SAPS’ plans going forward. We
welcome the swift arrest of 3 suspects following a tracing operation last night
by the anti-gang unit and we will be looking to find out what proactive steps
crime intelligence will be taking to prevent this horrific incident from repeating
itself. We cannot allow our communities to live in a constant state of fear and
to be terrorised by gangsters.”
MEC Fritz has called on those to come forward
should they have any information regarding this matter.
“We will never accept that this kind of
violence is normal. Violence has absolutely no place in our society and I call
on the community to come forward and share any information they might have
which will result in the successful prosecution of those guilty parties.”
Fritz says his department will be opening a court watching brief.
“My Department will be opening a court watching
brief unit to monitor these court processes to ensure that this matter is not
simply struck off the court roll, but that where inefficiencies do appear, that
they are instead spotted and addressed. We want convictions. We want to make
sure people pay for their crimes.”
Done By: Mitchum George
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