Western Cape police have arrested four suspects in connection with the mass shooting that claimed the lives of five men in Mfuleni’s Madikizela informal settlement on Sunday.
Story Summary:
- Western Cape police arrested four suspects linked to the Mfuleni mass shooting on Tuesday morning.
- Investigators seized four firearms and ammunition, which will undergo ballistic testing.
- The suspects face charges of murder and possession of illegal firearms and ammunition.
Breakthrough in Mfuleni mass shooting case: Four suspects arrested
The breakthrough, announced on Tuesday, follows intensive investigations by the provincial serious violent crimes unit, supported by intelligence operatives.
The suspects, aged between 29 and 35, were apprehended during an early morning operation.
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They have been charged with murder and possession of illegal firearms and ammunition, and will appear in court soon.
According to police, the arrests were part of a coordinated operation that also led investigators to a location where four firearms—a rifle and three pistols—along with ammunition, were recovered.
The confiscated weapons are set to undergo ballistic testing to determine if they were used in the Mfuleni shooting or other criminal acts.
Western Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa said the team had been working tirelessly since the shooting occurred on Sunday afternoon.
“The arrests and seizure of firearms have been hailed by Western Cape SAPS management as a significant step in efforts to curb violent crime in the province,” she said.
Sunday’s shooting left five men, aged between 19 and 30, dead inside a shack at the corner of Polisa and Deputy Streets.
Police were called to the scene at approximately 13:30, where they discovered the lifeless bodies of the victims, all with gunshot wounds.
Western Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile, visited the Mfuleni precinct on Monday, accompanied by the Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Crime Detection.
The visit included a briefing on the progress of the investigation.
Lieutenant General Patekile described the arrests as a critical milestone in addressing violent crimes that have plagued communities like Mfuleni.
The provincial commissioner also reaffirmed SAPS’s commitment to bringing the perpetrators of the mass shooting to justice.
While the motive for the shooting remains under investigation, law enforcement has urged members of the public with information about the incident to come forward.
Authorities are now focused on determining whether the seized firearms were involved in the mass shooting, a step they believe could provide key evidence in building their case.
