On Saturday 15 May, serious shooting attacks took place at various locations in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, leaving 13 people dead.
According to the statement released by the South African Police Service (SAPS) at the time, the shootings appeared to be connected and there were indications that the motives for the attacks were extortion-related.
After the attacks police reinforcements were quickly deployed to the area.
Investigation and successful arrests
Minister of Community Safety, Albert Fritz, welcomed the arrest of 11 suspects in connection with the murders which took place in Khayelitsha over the weekend.
According to the SAPS, the Western Cape police’s integrated task team tracked and traced the suspects to a hotel in Sea Point, Cape Town, at 03:00. According to the Cape Times one of the eleven suspects allegedly streamed a Facebook live video from that hotel, while boasting about the alcohol they were drinking, only hours after the mass shootings.
Regarding the arrests, Minister Fritz said, “I would like to welcome the arrest of the eleven suspects by the SAPS early this morning. The arrest comes on the back of a 72-hour plan activated by the acting-Provincial Commissioner, Gen. Patekile. We need to commend SAPS for their work in this regard. The arrest shows that we can beat crime. The arrest shows that we will beat crime!”
Community members have been left shaken. Minister Fritz said “The residents of Khayelitsha deserve better than this. Residents of Khayelitsha deserve to live in safety. We all need to pull together so that these criminals can be caught and face the full might of the law.”
