Police have arrested two individuals in connection with the weekend’s mass shooting at the Marikana Informal Settlement in Philippi East, which claimed the lives of eight people and left two others injured.
The attack, which authorities believe is linked to an active extortion syndicate in the area, occurred in the early hours of the morning at a local shebeen. Six victims died at the scene, a seventh succumbed while being transported to a medical facility, and an eighth died after receiving treatment at a hospital.
The arrests were announced by Police Major-General Luyanda Damoyi, who credited intelligence-driven operations for the breakthrough. “We have managed to arrest two people with regard to eight murders in Philippi East,” said Major-General Damoyi. He issued a stern appeal to the community, urging residents to cease cooperating with extortion networks. “They should not be cooperative with these extortionists,” he stated, explaining that syndicates often use intermediaries to collect money, shielding their own members from direct police detection.
The suspects are expected to appear in court later this week.
The Western Cape provincial government has pointed to the arrests as evidence of improved police performance in tackling violent crime. Premier Alan Winde, who visited the high-crime Kraaifontein police station on the same day, identified gangsterism and extortion as the primary drivers of violence. “That’s the driver. Gangsterism and extortion,” Winde said. “The arrest, that’s important. You know, if citizens know that nothing happens, well then we’re just going nowhere.”
Winde outlined a focused strategy for provincial support to the South African Police Service (SAPS), prioritizing the investigation of illegal firearms. “It’s firearms that are being used by these gangsters and these extortionists that are actually taking the lives of so many of our citizens. So that’s definitely front and center,” he said.
The Premier confirmed that the Western Cape Government is scheduled to meet with the National Minister of Police and SAPS leadership early next month to discuss coordinated strategies to reduce the province’s persistently high murder rate.
The shooting has left the Marana Informal Settlement in a state of profound fear, with residents expressing terror over the brazen and deadly attack linked to criminal extortion.