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Daily Maverick
04-07-2025
- Daily Maverick
Fourteen suspects arrested for Mitchells Plain gang shootings that left five dead, seven injured
Following three separate gang shootings in Mitchells Plain, which killed five people and injured seven others, 14 suspects aged between 20 and 39 were arrested in connection with the murders and attempted murders. The shootings are believed to be linked to an ongoing turf war in the area. The Mitchells Plain gang violence that left five dead and seven injured occurred in Beacon Valley, Tafelsig and Town Centre on Thursday, 3 July 2025, during the school holiday when many children were playing outside and in harm's way. Mitchells Plain is among the red zone areas in the Cape Flats and to protect the safety of officials, ambulance crews are not allowed to enter red zone areas without a South African Police Service (SAPS) escort. According to police spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa, the shooting started at about 12.30pm on Thursday. 'Five people were shot at in a tuckshop in Beacon Valley. Two died and three were injured. Also in Beacon Valley, four more people were shot at in another tuckshop. One died, while three others were wounded. 'In the third shooting incident, another person was shot and injured in Beacon Valley. In two other shooting incidents that occurred in Tafelsig and Town Centre, two fatalities were recorded respectively,' Potelwa said. Residents were terrified and took to social media to call on the police to intervene and quell the violence. All the incidents, Novela said, were believed to be gang-related, and the police immediately initiated a manhunt for the suspects, with multidisciplinary deployments bolstering their efforts to prevent further violence and to arrest those responsible for these heinous acts. Norman Jantjies, the chairperson of the Mitchells Plain Community Policing Forum (CPF), has stated several times that residents are under siege and that the violence is affecting households throughout the neighbourhood. His calls for urgent collaboration between law enforcement agencies and residents to fight the problem of gang violence appear to have been fruitless. Successful hunt for suspects Elaborating on the hunt for the suspects, police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk on Friday stated that from 2pm on Thursday to 2am on Friday, SAPS members were divided into teams, and areas such as Beacon Valley, Tafelsig and Portlands were targeted, and several houses were searched. According to Van Wyk, a total of 43 houses suspected of being affiliated with gang members were searched. At one house, a licensed 9mm Norinco pistol and ammunition were confiscated. 'Fourteen suspects aged between 20 and 39 were arrested for murder and attempted murder, and a 30-year-old suspect was arrested for the illegal possession of ammunition. 'Five firearms and an assortment of ammunition were confiscated, and seven suspects aged between 17 and 46 were arrested for the possession of unlicensed firearms and prohibited firearms and ammunition,' he said. Western Cape Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Thembisile Patekile applauded the SAPS members and said that these operations would continue until he was satisfied that the perpetrators had been brought to book and calm had been restored to the area. Meanwhile, City of Cape Town Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security JP Smith condemned the incidents and emphasised that the shootings in Mitchells Plain were a direct threat to the safety and wellbeing of communities. The Safety and Security Directorate, Smith said, was working closely with the SAPS and additional staff members had been deployed to the area on Thursday, including officers attached to the Law Enforcement Advancement Plan, the Metro Police Tactical Response Unit and the Traffic Services' Roadblock Unit. All the suspects are due to appear in the Mitchells Plain Magistrate's Court on Monday, 7 July, on their respective charges. DM
IOL News
22-04-2025
- IOL News
Wynberg Magistrate's Court murder: Second suspect appears in court
A second suspect who has been linked to the murder that took place inside the Wynberg Magistrate's Court appeared in court on Tuesday. The 24-year-old man was arrested over the long weekend. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Novela Potelwa confirmed the arrest. 'As part of ongoing investigations into the murder of a 50-year-old man at the Wynberg Regional Court on April 8, 2025, Western Cape Serious Violent Crimes detectives have arrested yet another suspect over the weekend on charges of murder. The 24-year-old suspect is expected to appear in the Wynberg court on Tuesday, April 22,' Potelwa said. The shooting incident took place just before 11am on the fourth floor of the court building. The body of the deceased is removed from the court, with forensic pathologists on the scene. The victim, Dingalomoyo Chintso, was killed outside in the lobby area while appearing at the court, in full view of everyone in the corridors. He sustained gunshot wounds to the head. 'With the investigation unfolding, the team has been questioning a number of individuals, and steady progress is being made in efforts to apprehend all those responsible for the murder. It is expected that further arrests will be made in due course,' Potelwa said. Previously speaking to IOL, a source stated the victim of the shooting was allegedly affiliated to Junky Funky Kidz (JFK) gang. The man is believed to be from Vrygrond near Muizenberg. Shireen Matthews made her first appearance in the Wynberg Magistrate's Court where she faced murder charges on Monday, April 14, after allegedly orchestrating a gang hit. On Monday, April 13, a 35-year-old woman from Strandfontein, believed to be the girlfriend of a gangster, was arrested for the murder. Shireen Matthews has already appeared in court. According to information, the newly arrested suspect is the boyfriend of Matthews. Abubaker Adams made a brief appearance at the Wynberg Magistrate's Court. The provincial spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Eric Ntabazalila confirmed the appearance of Adams. 'We can confirm that Abubaker Adams appeared at the Wynberg Magistrate's Court today [Tuesday], charged with murder. His case has been rolled over to tomorrow morning for him to join his co-accused, Shireen Mathews. More charges are likely to be added when they appear tomorrow morning,' Ntabazalila said.
The South African
22-04-2025
- The South African
Police confirm second arrest in fatal Wynberg Magistrate's Court shooting
Cape Town police have made a breakthrough in the case of the fatal shooting of a 50-year-old taxi owner inside the Wynberg Magistrate's Court earlier this month. A 24-year-old suspect was arrested over the Easter weekend. 'Western Cape Serious Violent Crimes (SVC) detectives have arrested another suspect over the weekend on charges of murder,' police spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa confirmed. 'The 24-year-old suspect is expected to appear in the Wynberg Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, 22 April.' Potelwa added that Shireen Matthews, the alleged gang queenpin behind the fatal 'revenge' hit, will make her next court appearance on Wednesday, 23 April, when bail proceedings are expected to begin. 'With the investigation unfolding, the team has been questioning a number of individuals, and steady progress is being made in efforts to apprehend all those responsible for the murder,' concluded Potelwa. Meanwhile, Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DJCOD) has ordered that security be strengthened at the Wynberg Magistrate's Court in Cape Town, following a fatal shooting inside the court building earlier this month. A high-level delegation, led by DJCOD Director-General, Advocate Doc Mashabane, conducted an oversight visit to the court. The delegation also included Acting Secretary-General in the Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ), Advocate Marelize Potgieter, and the Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions in the Western Cape, Advocate Nicolette Bell. 'The purpose of the visit was to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine whether any security lapses had occurred. This intervention formed part of government's response, with the objective of reviewing and strengthening security protocols at court facilities,' the department said in a statement. As part of immediate interventions, the Director-General has directed the installation of a security scanner, the tightening of access control to prosecutors' and magistrates' offices, and the enhanced vetting of court officials. Furthermore, a report on the incident will be drawn up and submitted to DJCOD Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi and Chief Justice, Mandisa Maya. 'The department reiterates its commitment to ensuring that courts remain places for the dispensation of justice and not places where crime is committed,' the department said. Meanwhile, the Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ) said it views the incident in a 'serious light'. 'The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, under whose delegation the Security of the Court falls, has been engaged on the enhancement of security in and around the court precinct. 'As the Head of the Judiciary in the Province, the Judge President of the Western Cape Division of the High Court wishes to convey condolences to the family of the deceased, and expresses regret and support to the Judicial Officers, officials and the public who witnessed the incident,' the OCJ said. The incident is currently under police investigation. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
