Marikana suspects due in court
FOUR of the five suspects who were positively linked to the murder of 11 people in the Marikana informal settlement of Philippi will appear in court today.
Police Minister Fikile Mbalula made the announcement at a media briefing at the local police station yesterday. Altogether 18 people were gunned down in a week in the informal settlement two months ago in alleged gang-related tit-for-tat killings.
“We are here today to report a major breakthrough. We can confidently say four of the five suspects have been linked directly to the murder of 11 people and are behind bars.
“A 19-year-old suspect, currently in Pollsmoor prison, was arrested in Queenstown. Two brothers, aged 23 and 24, were arrested on Monday. A relative of the two brothers, 27, was arrested on Saturday for an armed robbery case. He was also positively linked to the Marikana killings. The last outstanding suspect is a 26-year-old male. Police are following up all leads and an arrest is expected soon,” Mbalula said.
“They were also arrested for other criminal activities, including terrorising and killing people in and around here. We salute our forensics.
“One person is still on the run but will be arrested as police are following leads.”
Mbalula said he was encouraged by the work of the police in responding to the fight against crime.
“We haven’t stabilised, but are satisfied with the actions of the police. I salute police, detectives and the crime intelligence effort. People of Nyanga, you will never be left alone to be terrorised by criminals; it is our task to bring criminals to book.”
Mbalula said the SANDF would be deployed before Christmas in Western Cape, Gauteng and Eastern Cape hotspots.
Provincial deputy police commissioner Mpumelelo Manci said for the 21 murders in Philippi East, eight suspects were arrested.
“Regarding the burned bodies, three people were arrested and are out on bail. One person was arrested for the murder of seven people and bail was denied. Four people are in police custody.”