Man arrested after boy shot
A 40-YEAR-old man was arrested in Hanover Park on Saturday evening after the death of a four-yearold boy in the area on Wednesday. An illegal firearm and several rounds of ammunition were also confiscated.
Mogamat Simons, from Hermanus, appears to have been caught in the crossfire of a gang shooting. He was in the area visiting his grandmother.
Western Cape police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel André Traut said the shooting occurred at around 7pm in Mentz Court.
The arrest was made by members of Operation Combat, a provincial intervention unit aimed at curbing gang violence in the Western Cape.
The firearm that was seized is believed to be the murder weapon and the suspect has been charged with possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition. He is expected to appear in court soon.
Family members of the boy carried his body to several known drug houses in the area, in an attempt to draw attention to the damage that drug- and gang-related crimes are doing to the community. They declined to comment to the Cape Argus.
Members attached to Operation Combat also seized a .303 rifle in Hanover Park and made one arrest in a separate matter.
The acting provincial commissioner, Lieutenant-General Gary Kruser, said the operations will go a long way in instilling confidence in the police.
“The arrests send a strong message to criminals. At the same time, the Cape Flats community feel safer with these criminals behind bars,” said Kruser.