In a major breakthrough, Western Cape Serious Violent Crime investigators, supported by intelligence operatives, arrested four men today (Tuesday 3 December) suspected of killing five men in a shack in Mfuleni on Sunday 1 December.
Provincial police spokesperson Brig Novela Potelwa said the suspects, aged 29 to 35, have subsequently been charged with murder and possession of illegal firearms with ammunition.
“They are expected to appear in court soon,” she said.
“As part of the same investigation, vital intelligence also led the team to a location where they recovered four firearms (a rifle and three pistols) as well as rounds of ammunition. The confiscated firearms will undergo ballistic testing to determine if they were utilised in the commission of the Mfuleni murders or any other crime.”
Potelwa said the arrests and seizure of firearms have been hailed by Western provincial police management in efforts to curb incidents of violent crimes in the province.
“Since the occurrence of the Mfuleni multiple murders on Sunday afternoon Western Cape police teams have been hard at work in search of the perpetrators,” he said.
“On Monday 2 December morning the Western Cape Provincial Commissioner Lt-Gen Thembisile Patekile with the deputy provincial commissioner for Crime Detective Maj-Gen Bongani Mqashalala visited the Mfuleni precinct and were briefed on the progress of the investigation.”
A community leader who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of harassment praised the officers for doing a great job.
He said the officers mustn’t leave any stone unturned. “We are of the view that there are kingpins who give orders to do all the dirty work. The culprits must tell the officers who are behind these shooting incidents in Mfuleni.”
He added that community members were living in fear of people they didn’t know. He urged the public, whoever had information on the incident, to come forward.
