The South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Western Cape says it has made a major breakthrough in the Philippi East mass murder investigation.
The development comes after officers arrested four suspects, two of them juveniles, believed to be involved in the 30 September 2025 killings, which left two people dead and a third seriously injured.
According to Western Cape SAPS spokesperson Colonel André Traut, the arrests followed “relentless investigative work” by the Provincial Serious and Violent Crimes Unit.
The suspects are also believed to be linked to another brutal incident in early October, when seven people were murdered and set alight in the same area.
“The South African Police Service in the Western Cape has welcomed the swift and decisive action by the Provincial Serious and Violent Crimes Unit following a significant breakthrough that links two brutal murder cases in Philippi East,” said Traut in a statement.
He confirmed that five accused — including suspects arrested in both cases — are now facing multiple counts of murder and attempted murder. They are expected to appear in the Athlone Magistrates’ Court today, where the two matters will be joined.
Provincial Commissioner of the Western Cape, Lieutenant General (Advocate) Thembisile Patekile, commended the investigating team for their persistence and professionalism, stating that the arrests reflect SAPS’s ongoing commitment to tackling violent crime.
“These arrests send a clear message that the South African Police Service will not tolerate barbaric acts of violence that rob communities of their safety and dignity,” said Patekile.
“The dedication displayed by the Serious and Violent Crimes Unit reflects our resolve to hunt down and dismantle criminal groups who terrorise our communities.”
The Provincial Commissioner further praised the courage of witnesses who came forward, noting their cooperation was crucial to the investigation’s success.
The breakthrough comes as police continue to probe another fatal shooting in Philippi East earlier this week. On Tuesday night, 4 November 2025, officers were called to Sheffield Road in the Marikana informal settlement around 19:10 SAST, where they discovered the bodies of three men aged 27, 30, and 38. All had suffered multiple gunshot wounds.
“Preliminary reports suggest that the victims were executed in a cold-blooded manner,” Colonel Traut said.
He confirmed that detectives from the Serious and Violent Crimes Unit have been assigned to investigate the latest attack, which is believed to be connected to ongoing gang turf wars in the area.
Police have not ruled out links between the recent shootings and the earlier mass killings in Philippi East, where turf disputes over extortion and drug territories continue to fuel violence.
