CAPE TOWN -In response to the murders of five people in Mitchells Plain yesterday, police launched a coordinated crackdown across Beacon Valley, Tafelsig, and Portlands. Between 2 pm Thursday and 2 am on Friday, 43 suspected gang houses were searched. Officers confiscated five firearms, including a licensed 9mm pistol, along with ammunition. Seven suspects were arrested for illegal firearm possession, while 14 others face murder charges. A 30-year-old man was also arrested for illegally possessing ammunition. All suspects are due in court Monday, as police vow continued operations to restore peace.
Meanwhile, the City of Cape Town is offering a R100 000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the shootings that rocked Mitchells Plain yesterday. Acting Mayor, Eddie Andrews, says that the City’s Safety and Security Directorate is working closely with the police – including the Traffic Services’ Roadblock Unit to help crackdown on those responsible.
A battle over drug turf is said to be behind the surge in urban terror gang violence in Mitchells Plain. The Cape Flats Safety Forum’s chairperson, Abie Isaacs, indicates that this threat was picked up by him and others following the recent shootings, which came to a head yesterday. There are fears that there may be further escalation in terms of gang retaliations. Isaacs has called for the deployment of the South Africa Defence Force to stabalise areas gripped by gang terror.
[Pictures: supplied]
