By Mapaballo Borotho
- Five suspects have been arrested in connection with the mass shooting at the Marikana informal settlement in Philippi that left four people dead and one injured.
- Police recovered two firearms during a tracing operation carried out early on Monday morning.
- Authorities believe the motive for the shooting may be linked to extortion.
Five people have been arrested for the mass shooting that left four people dead at the Marikana informal settlement in Philippi, Western Cape.
Their arrest comes after Western Cape police launched a manhunt after three men and one woman were killed and another individual was injured on Saturday evening.
Police spokesperson Novela Potelwa says two firearms were recovered during the apprehension.
“The arrests were effected early on Monday morning (March 9) as part of a tracing operation that was initiated after the shooting incident occurred on Disa Road in the Marikana informal settlement of Philippi East,” Potelwa said.
“The tracing operation led to the arrests and confiscation of firearms that will be undergoing ballistics tests to determine if they were utilised in the commission of the murders and other crimes”.
The suspects, aged between 25 and 35, have been charged with murder, attempted murder, as well as the illegal possession of firearms. They are expected to appear in court in due course.
The motive for the incident is believed to be linked to the crime of extortion.
This incident comes exactly a month after President Cyril Ramaphosa promised the deployment of the South African National Defence Force in violence-stricken communities to protect ordinary citizens.
However, Acting Minister of Police Firoz Cachalia on Saturday said the deployment of the SANDF will take much longer than anticipated.
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