Four of the five suspects linked to the Marikana informal settlement mass murders are behind bars, Police Minister Fikile Mbalula confirmed on Wednesday. The men had been nabbed for unrelated crimes and were linked to the 11 killings through forensic evidence and witness statements, he said at the Philippi East police station. "One is still on the run and will be rounded up very soon as police follow up on […]
A man accused of the rape and murder of 11-year-old Stacha Arendse made his first appearance in the Mitchells Plain Magistrates Court on Friday, and is scheduled to reappear in court on Monday. Randy Tango was taken into custody shortly after the child’s body was found in Tafelsig on Tuesday morning. In anticipation of the young girl’s funeral, which is set to take place on Tuesday, community members came out […]
Western Cape police have arrested and charged a suspect following the murder of an 11-year-old girl in Mitchell’s Plain on the Cape Flats. Stacha Arendse, from Tafelsig, went missing on Monday afternoon and her body was found on Tuesday morning behind the Swartklip Centre in the area. The 31-year-old suspect is expected to appear in the Mitchell’s Plain Magistrate’s Court on friday. Police were called on Thursday to guard the […]
At least five suspects allegedly linked to gang violence and drugs in Cape Town are set to appear in various courts on Monday following their arrest over the weekend. In Bishop Lavis and Bonteheuwel, three suspects, aged 17, 37 and 47 were arrested in separate incidents during an operation focusing on gang violence and drugs. A shot gun, 9mm firearm and 202 rounds of ammunition as well as an assortment […]
In yet another gang related incident, residents of Leonsdale, in Elsies River, were forced to run for cover as violence erupted, only this time stray bullets were not the concern. Over the weekend, a young girl, Zhekira Jansen, was not in the firing line of stray bullets, but was used as a human shield by a gang member. The 11-year-old was at Leonsdale Supermarket & Butchery on Sunday when rival […]
Last week, community members were shocked to learn of a stabbing of three learners at a local school. The incident, which occurred at the Lentegeur Secondary School in Mitchell’s Plain, involved three learners who threatened to begin a new gang, after which a forth leaner retaliated. Following the ordeal, an image of a young male was shared on the Mitchell’s Plain Gang Watch Facebook page, alleging that a young boy […]
By Thakira Desai The community of Hanover Park on the Cape Flats recently voiced concerns about the Health Department’s decision to relocate the Hanover Park Day Hospital amid concerns that healthcare services would be inaccessible to the community. The department insists the relocation is for the residents own well-being amid rampant gang violence. As in many parts of the Cape Flats, residents have for years been plagued by often fatal […]
The Hanover Park Civic Association is calling on community members to participate in a public meeting calling for the eviction of gangster’s residing in council rental units. This follows the shooting and consequent wounding of five old Ashlin Telmarks in Hanover Park’s Algoa Court on Tuesday evening. Telmarks was caught in reported gang related crossfire while playing only meters from her grandmother’s front door. According to the family, medical reports […]
While the festive season is met with great excitement by holiday makers, businesses throughout the country become the targets of criminals. This year, local crime prevention NPO, Business against Crime in the Western Cape, is urging all businesses to be proactive and exhaust all avenues to combat the scourge of crime during the festive season. Speaking to VOC’s Breakfast Beat, CEO of Business Against crime in the Western Cape, Andrew […]
VOC became the first Muslim radio station in South Africa when a special events license was granted to the station in Ramadan/January 1995. Subsequent temporary broadcast licenses were granted, permitting the station to broadcast for 24 hours.
