The Western Cape’s Anti-Gang Unit has arrested a 24-year-old suspect linked to the Athlone Magistrate’s Court shooting, which left one man dead and two others wounded. Police confirmed on Tuesday that the suspect is currently under guard in hospital after being injured in a separate gang shooting.
According to SAPS spokesperson Colonel Andrè Traut, the man will appear in court once formally charged.
“In their pursuit of justice, detectives attached to the Anti-Gang Unit have arrested a 24-year-old suspect in connection with the murder and attempted murders that occurred last week at the Athlone Court and its vicinity,” he said.
Traut added that further arrests are possible as investigations continue.
What happened at the Athlone Magistrate’s Court
The shooting took place on Friday morning (5 September 2025) outside the Athlone Magistrate’s Court. Police say the victim, who was due to appear in court that day, was shot dead by an unidentified gunman who quickly fled the scene.
Two other people – a man and a woman – were injured in separate attacks nearby and rushed to hospital. Detectives later recovered a firearm and other items believed to be linked to the incident.
Brigadier Novela Potelwa, also speaking for SAPS, said:
“We have bolstered deployment in Athlone to restore calm and ensure community safety while detectives continue to track down those responsible.”
The bigger picture: gang violence on the Cape Flats
The Athlone Magistrate’s Court shooting is part of a larger crisis of gang-related violence sweeping across Cape Town. In Kraaifontein alone, three double murders were recorded on Tuesday, 9 September 2025.
According to the group Fight Against Crime South Africa (FACSA), Mitchells Plain saw more than 50 shootings in just one week between 25 and 31 August.
At least 26 people were killed and 20 critically injured. FACSA has called for the army to be deployed, saying:
“We need order within our communities. Violence in Beacon Valley has increased dramatically, and families are living in fear.”
Parents and community leaders on the Cape Flats say the daily shootings have left residents living in fear. Children are kept indoors after school, and families lock themselves inside before sunset.
National Police Committee member Ian Cameron added that SAPS often operates “blind” due to poor intelligence gathering.
He argued that giving the City of Cape Town more policing powers could ease pressure on the national service:
“Allowing the City to investigate gang-related gun offences and run forensic tests would free up SAPS resources and speed up investigations.”
The arrested suspect is expected to appear soon in the same court where the shooting took place. Police investigations are ongoing, and more arrests could follow.
For now, law enforcement has increased visibility in Athlone and other hotspots in an attempt to calm communities shaken by relentless gang warfare.