Pagad chief arrested for triple murder

PAGAD national co-ordinator Abdus Salaam Ebrahim is in police custody in connection with a triple murder and an attempted murder, says his attorney.

Yesterday, his legal representative, Tashriq Ahmed, said Ebrahim and the arresting officer had confirmed this waswhy Ebrahim had been arrested.

Ahmed said apart from Ebrahim’s telling him the incident had apparently occurred early yesterday, no one had provided further details.

“The investigating officer’s instruction to me was that he’s lining up witnesses,” Ahmed said.

Pagad said Ebrahim was arrested at 5.30am yesterday at his home in Lansdowne.

It was the second time in a year that Ebrahim – who spent years in jail for public violence – had been taken into police custody over a shooting. Pagad believes police are unfairly targeting the organisation.

In response to whether Ebrahim had been arrested yesterday, police spokesman Frederick van Wyk said a 55year-old man was being held for questioning.

“This office is not going to elaborate further,” he said.

Three men were murdered in Athlone late on Tuesday.

Asked if Ebrahim had been detained for this, Van Wyk responded: “I can’t confirm.”

Ahmed said Ebrahim had been arrested while praying at his home and was not simply being detained for questioning purposes. He said he would know by To Page 3

this afternoon when Ebrahim would appear in court.

Ahmed visited Ebrahim in a cell at the Gugulethu police station.

“He’s fine. He’s got blankets. I got the Qur’an to him,” Ahmed said, adding that he found it strange that every time Pagad marched, a member seemed to be arrested.

Yesterday Pagad spokesman Cassiem Parker said that each Wednesday for a month, barring last week, Pagad had participated in awareness motorcades – it had driven through areas plagued by gangsterism and drugs.

Last month the motorcades were in the spotlight when “explosive devices” were detonated in Athlone as one of the motorcades passed through.

Pagad denied involvement in the incidents.

Parker said the motorcades had become increasingly popular and he believed the police had arrested Ebrahim to try to clamp down on that.

Parker said Ebrahim’s arrest would not stop them, and last night a motorcade went through Grassy Park, Retreat and Lavender Hill.

The procession was preceded by argument between police and Pagad leaders over the legality of the demonstration. Under the watchful eye of a strong police contingent, the motorcade snaked through streets where residents shouted support.

“It’s a good idea. I’m fully behind them because drugs and gangs are big problems,” said resident Ernest De Mink.

Pagad spokesman Osman Sahib said the intention was solely to create awareness among residents.

Yesterday the police would not comment on the allegations that they were unfairly targeting Pagad.

Eleven years ago Ebrahim, accused of the 1996 killing and burning of Hard Livings gang boss Rashaad Staggie, was acquitted, but convicted of public violence. He was released from jail in 2008.

On August 23 last year, Ebrahim and two Pagad members were detained after the fatal shooting of a man in Lotus River. They were released the next day.