‘Most wanted’ suspect dies in hail of bullets

A man who was released from prison in East London three months ago and was once dubbed Nelson Mandela Bay’s most dangerous and wanted suspect has been shot more than 15 times in what police believe to be a hit murder.

Luvuyo “Mabele” Plaatjies, 34, was gunned down inside the garage of a house in Mbane Street in Zwide, Port Elizabeth, on Sunday.

Plaatjies was released from the East London prison three months ago after he was arrested in 2015 for allegedly being part of a gang that robbed a tobacco tuck.

Plaatjies and three others were arrested just days after allegedly robbing a British American Tobacco vehicle delivering cigarettes at a shop in Cambridge in East London in November 2015.

The release came after the state was forced to withdraw the charges against the suspects because the police docket had gone missing.

Sunday’s killing comes after three suspected hit killings and a shooting occurred within a 24-hour period last week.

The latest killing brings the count since late January to at least 17 suspected hit murders in Nelson Mandela Bay.

Police spokesperson Captain André Beetge said the incident happened at about 5.15pm on Sunday when Plaatjies was drinking in a garage with two others.

“The door was half open at the time and the three were sitting inside drinking. It is alleged that two gunmen then walked up to the door and just started shooting. Several shots were fired . [Plaatjies] was shot multiple times,” he said.

“[One] other man who was inside the garage managed to escape with only an arm wound but had vanished by the time police arrived. The third person escaped unscathed and was also missing.”

Plaatjies was no stranger to the law and had been arrested several times for crimes including murder, armed robbery, cash in transit heists and the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

Between 2006 and 2019, Plaatjies had all 12 cases against him withdrawn.

In 2012, Plaatjies was dubbed one of Nelson Mandela Bay’s most dangerous and wanted suspects who had been on the run since 2006.

Asked how all the cases against Plaatjies were withdrawn over the years, Beetge said detectives were looking into the matter and were also seeking clarity on how he kept getting bail.

Beetge declined to elaborate on whether any of the withdrawals of charges were linked to witness murders or intimidation of witnesses.

He said it was unclear what the motive for his killing was but confirmed police were looking into the matter being linked to gangsterism.

Between 2006 and 2019, Plaatjies had all 12 cases against him withdrawn