Shooters caught soon after incident
17 February 2025
Metro Police officers arrested three men after a high speed chase and crash in Mitchells Plain. The men are suspected of being involved in a shooting incident earlier in the day. The City of Cape Town’s enforcement departments arrested 347 people this past week.
Metro Police officers were conducting a stop and search operation in Tafelsig on Saturday, 15 February, when they received information about a vehicle involved in a shooting earlier in the day.
Upon spotting the vehicle on Eisleben Road, officers attempted to stop the driver, but he refused and sped off.
A high-speed chase ensued, during which the occupants fired multiple shots at the officers.
They returned fire and the suspects eventually crashed into a barrier on Duinefontein Road, near the Jakes Gerwel Bridge.
Three suspects were apprehended and officers confiscated two pistols - a 9mm Norinco Star with five live rounds of ammunition and a Glock 19,9mm pistol with an extended magazine and six live rounds – with their serial numbers intact. In addition, officers also discovered 18 spent cartridges in the vehicle.
Two of the suspects sustained head injuries in the collision and received medical attention on the scene. They will be charged with reckless and negligent driving, firing a weapon in a municipal area, attempted murder, the possession of an illegal firearm and the possession of ammunition.
All three, aged between 30 and 35, were detained at the Mitchells Plain SAPS.
‘Officers acted on information immediately and didn’t hesitate when they saw the vehicle suspected of being involved in the shooting. Our communities are plagued by a proliferation of guns and indiscriminate shootings. The question remains where criminals are getting a seemingly endless supply of guns and bullets from and why firearms convictions are so low in South Africa. It is these two factors that are enabling the continued shooting and deaths of innocent residents.
‘Since 2021, the City has made 1 670 arrests linked to some type of illegal firearm that we are tracking (illegal firearms, zip guns, imitation firearm). Yet we see the same persons back on the street, having served no meaningful time in prison. We call on the National Minister of Police to urgently intervene and initiate an investigation around the influx of ammunition to gangs and vulnerable communities. Fix the problems that are causing cases to be withdrawn due to delayed ballistic testing,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
Metro Police Officers arrested a total of 59 people this past week and confiscated a number of drugs, weapons and ammunition.
Public Emergency Communication Centre
The PECC recorded 1 599 calls this weekend, of which just less than a third (520) were medical complaints. The centre also recorded 81 assault cases, 51 domestic violence complaints and 51 motor vehicle and pedestrian accidents.
Traffic Service
Cape Town Traffic Services held integrated roadblocks, vehicle checkpoints and speed control operations and recorded a total of 31 664 speeding offences and issued 29 096 fines for various traffic violations.
In total 277 public transport vehicles were impounded and 1 622 warrants of arrest were executed.
Traffic officers made 48 arrests for the following offences:
27 for driving under the influence of alcohol
12 for reckless and negligent driving
nine for other violations, including the possession of a stolen vehicle, false documentation, and assaulting an officer
Law Enforcement
Law Enforcement officers made 240 arrests for a number of transgressions, including the possession of drugs, ammunition and dangerous weapons.
Residents are reminded to report any criminal activity or emergency by contacting the PECC on 021 480 7700 from a cellphone or 107 from a landline.
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
