Man arrested for murder of M/Plain teen caught in gang crossfire

Western Cape police have made a breakthrough regarding the murder of a teenage girl in Mitchell’s Plain.

PICTURE: Pixabay

Police confirmed that a 27-year-old man has been arrested on Wednesday afternoon, in connection with the murder of a 12-year-old girl, Firdous Kleinsmidt, who was caught in a crossfire between rival gangs in Beacon Valley, on Tuesday morning. According to reports, she was shot and killed by a stray bullet at the Ieglaasi Nieyah Primary School. The school sent out an alert for parents to fetch their child(ren) from the school following the shooting.

‘’Sterling, around the clock investigative work by the investigating officer Detective Sergeant Bradley Schuurman who is attached to Anti-Gang Unit led to the arrest of a 27 year old male this afternoon (Wednesday, 2024-01-31) in Eastridge, Mitchells Plain on a charge of murder,’’ said Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi.

The arrested suspect will appear in the Mitchells Plain Magistrates court on Friday on the mentioned charge.

The Western Cape's police Oversight & Community Safety MEC, Reagen Allen, welcomed the arrest.

''The suspect should provide all details for this unnecessary and senseless incident. There was no need to lose her life in this manner. I once again urge SAPS to apply the POCA so that the suspect faces additional charges. Should there be any application for bail, I urge the judge to deny it, as we cannot have characters such as these roaming our streets.''

 

Done by: Alungile Njemla