Call to audit murder probes in Ocean View
Community outraged after fatal shooting of 9-year-old Aqueel
ENRAGED community organisations in Ocean View want to know what happened to all the investigations into the murders of people in the area. This follows the arrest of two suspects in connection with the shooting at a house in Ocean View in which nine-year old Aqueel Davids was killed about three weeks ago.
The suspects, aged 20 and 24, are expected to appear in the Simon’s Town magistrate’s court today.
Aqueel died after a fatal shot to the head. He was inside the house with his family in Ocean View, preparing for his grandmother’s wedding, when he was struck by a bullet.
Police spokesperson Novela Potelwa said the two suspects had been arrested in Manenberg on Wednesday.
“In the attack – which is believed to be gang-related – three other victims between the ages of 19 and 28 were shot and wounded,” she said.
Patrick Joseph of the Ocean View Civic Association said that even though they were glad that the suspects had been arrested, they were still calling for an audit into investigations of murders in Ocean View.
“We have had a lot of visible policing in the area recently, but it is not enough. The neighbourhood is crime ridden, with an escalation in gang violence. People are running around with guns in Ocean View…
“It is youngsters who are being used to spread terror in the community. There have also been a lot of protests in the community, following the killings,” he said.
Ocean View Community Policing Forum member Cathy Cronjé said: “We have had so many people being killed in this community that it is good to hear when people are arrested,” she said.
Aqueel’s aunt, Fatima Petersen, said she knew two suspects had been arrested in connection with Aqueel’s murder and the attempted murder of three other people who were in the house at the time.
“That is all I am going to say,” she added.
RESIDENTS DEMAND TO KNOW WHAT’S HAPPENED TO ALL THE INVESTIGATIONS INTO GANG-RELATED KILLINGS IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD