Three suspects have been arrested in Mfuleni for murder, attempted murder and possession of unlicensed firearms on Thursday 29 October.
The arrests are linked to killings during the ongoing taxi violence between the Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (Codeta) and the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (Cata).
The suspects are expected to appear in the Blue Downs Magistrates’ Court on Monday 2 November.
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Provincial police spokesperson Sgt Wesley Twigg confirmed this, stating that the swift response by members of the Mfuleni Crime Prevention Unit led to the arrest.
Firearm recovery
“Officers were conducting foot patrols in Ngubelani Street, Mfuleni, when they spotted three males running in their direction. On seeing the officers, they tried to evade them but were apprehended. The suspects were searched and four 9 mm pistols with a total of 147 rounds of ammunition were found in their possession. Further investigation led the officers to a crime scene, where the body of a 34-year-old minibus taxi driver was found in the driver’s seat of the vehicle with gunshot wounds. A female wounded in the attack was admitted to hospital.”
He said the suspects, aged 25 to 30, are due to appear in the Blue Downs Magistrates’ Court on Monday 2 November.
Provincial Commissioner
Western Cape Provincial Commissioner Lt-Gen Sizakhele Dyantyi welcomed the arrest of the suspects and the recovery of the firearms and ammunition.
“A stern warning is issued to those who stir-up violent acts; they will be dealt with harshly. As the joint forces, we commit to undertake a number of operational activities while taxis are in transit. A humble plea is made to commuters and motorists to be patient as the planned operational activities may impact their travelling times.”
He said the arrests were made in direct response to the ongoing taxi-related violence and form part of efforts to restore law and order and protect commuters and other road users. He warned that attempts to blockade major routes or disrupt traffic would not be tolerated and called on all relevant stakeholders to resolve the conflict urgently before further measures become necessary.
Community reaction
A community leader, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisal, praised officers for making the arrests. He said the taxi-related violence, which began almost two weeks ago, had instilled fear in the community.
“We applaud the officers for the great job that they’ve done. The suspects’ arrest gives hope to the deceased’s families and the community at large. We are hoping that there are more arrests to come.” He also urged the taxi associations to resolve their differences.
