85 arrested in 'Cape’s Murder Capital'

By Nomava Nobumba
03 November 2009

85 people were arrested in Nyanga for various crimes over the weekend.

They appeared in the Phillipi, Athlone, Wynberg and Fezeka Magistrate Courts yesterday on various charges ranging from rape, assault, house robbery, malicious damage to property, attempted murder, dealing in dagga and liquor, drunken driving, reckless and negligent driving.

“In another incident six suspects were taken in for questioning for a murder that took place at a party in Crossroads. It is alleged that the deceased was stabbed on his left ear, chest and neck after an argument occurred between two youth groups,” said police spokesperson Captain Ntomboxolo Sitshitshi.

In separate incident a 20 year old man of Phillipi was stoned to death by the a mob of residents after he and his two accomplices allegedly forced open the door of a house in Fobodi Street, Browns Farm Philippi.

“The deceased and the two fired several shots and robbed the owner of his cell phone and television. The owner managed to grab one suspect and his firearm and called for help,” said Sitshitshi.

Community members recovered a 9mm Norinco pistol with no serial number, which was handed over to the police. Two other suspects ran away and the owner’s television and cell phone were recovered and handed over back to the victim.

The two suspects are still at large. Police are investigating a case of murder, house robbery and possession of an unlicensed firearm.