Two suspects are set to make their first court appearance at the Hermanus Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 6 January 2025, in connection with a double murder linked to taxi violence in the Overberg District.
Hermanus double murder case progresses
The charges stem from a shooting incident in November 2024 that claimed two lives during a dispute between taxi associations.
The investigation, spearheaded by the Western Cape’s SVC (Serious Violent Crimes) Unit, began shortly after the murders.
Working with the Overberg Operational Team, detectives conducted an intelligence-driven operation on Friday, 3 January 2025, in Zwelitsha, Hermanus.
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This operation led to the arrest of two 31-year-old male suspects at identified addresses.
Sgt Wesley Twigg, spokesperson for the Western Cape police, confirmed the arrests, stating that investigators had built a strong case against the suspects after gathering substantial evidence.
The suspects will be formally charged with murder during their court appearance.
Monday’s court proceedings are expected to focus on the formal charging of the suspects and an application for bail.
During the first appearance, the magistrate will most likely:
- confirm the suspects’ identities and charges;
- hear any preliminary arguments regarding bail; and
- potentially set a future date for a formal bail hearing.
The court’s handling of this case will be closely watched given the ongoing issue of taxi-related violence in the Western Cape, which has plagued communities with sporadic outbreaks of conflict and lawlessness.
In an unrelated case, a 20-year-old suspect was arrested in Bishop Lavis on Thursday, 2 January 2924, during stop-and-search operations conducted by the Anti-Gang Unit.
Acting on a tip-off, officers searched a property on Vygie Road and recovered a 9mm Norinco pistol with five rounds of ammunition hidden inside the premises.
The suspect is expected to appear in the Bishop Lavis Magistrate’s Court on Monday to face charges of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
