Cele puts criminals on notice
POLICE Minister Bheki Cele assured Browns Farm residents in Philippi that his officers were closing in on the suspects behind the deadly shooting of four people on Tuesday night.
Two of the dead were children aged 12 and 13. A fifth man survived and was recovering in hospital.
Cele visited the families of the deceased on Wednesday night.
Police said three unidentified suspects shot Sinethemba Gwadiso, 28, Yonela Sixiki, 13, Kamvalethu Thuthani, 12, and Sazi Velebhayi, 20, while they were sitting in a Toyota Avanza that Sinethemba was driving. Siyabonga Gwadiso, 20, the surviving man, is in hospital.
This place belongs to the innocent. It can’t be shared with criminals
The suspects fled the scene.
Cele visited main streets in Philippi, speaking to residents, business owners and motorists yesterday.
“We are very close in our investigations. We are not far from finding the suspects and the investigation is better than yesterday. Allow us to look for the people that killed the uncle and his nephews.
“We have to arrest people when we have evidence. We have already found something on them. We have found more evidence other than the white car involved we have found.
“There is no way we can allow the people of South Africa to be murdered and as government we don’t respond. The space is too small and it cannot be shared with criminals.
“This space belongs to the innocent communities, citizens like yourselves, so help us. It cannot be shared with criminals. We will be very hard on criminals,” Cele told about 100 residents.
“Nyanga is the murder capital of South Africa. We have to demote this place and we can do that together with you, the community.
“We will camp in your streets. If you are a shebeen owner with a licence and you close beyond your stipulated time, you will be in trouble,” Cele added.
Some of the residents told him crime in Philippi was escalating and police were not doing enough.
Nomgcobo Dalasile said she and other residents knew where criminals and drug dealers operated, but they would not relay that information to the police because they would be putting their lives at risk.
“Our children knew and we know where these drugs are sold. The lack of trust between the police and the communities is the result people don’t report drugs outlets,” said Dalasile.
Police spokesperson André Traut said: “The motive is yet to be determined and suspects are yet to be arrested.”
One of those inside the Avanza before the shooting was Nobuhle Balele, 17, who had left to go to the shops.
On her way back she heard about 20 gunshots and had thought the gunmen were robbing a spaza shop.
On closer inspection, she realised her cousins had been shot.
“What happened is sad,” said Balele.