Police have arrested ELEVEN men following a killing spree in Khayelitsha over the weekend in which 13 people were shot dead.
The suspects were nabbed at a hotel in Sea Point and cops said within the next 48 hours, they hope to have enough evidence to link them to the murders in Site B.
Saturday’s bloodbath left 13 dead while five are critical in hospital.
The youngest victim is 26 while the oldest is 59.
It is believed the shootings are linked to an extortion racket.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa says: “The body of the first victim was found in Banzi Street, Site B. In the RR Section, three other males were shot dead, two Somali nationals were shot at T110.
“Meanwhile at a spaza shop in Y-Block, two other men were killed after being shot.
“Reports also indicate two other Somali nationals were shot close to a spaza shop in the area, two more died in hospital.”
Western Cape Provincial acting Police Commissioner Major General Thembisile Patekile says they were surprised and taken aback to trace the suspects to a hotel in Sea Point.
“The 11 people were arrested for questioning, the investigation will reveal what comes out of it.
“What is interesting for us is the fact that we arrested them in a hotel, they were not in Khayelitsha, they went to book themselves in a hotel.
“That is something that boggles our minds but we are working around the clock with detectives.
“We won’t reveal what we are doing but what is important is that we have the 11 people that we are questioning and we still have time before the required 48 hours before going to court.
“And during that time we have to find whether we’re linking some of them with the cases or some of them will be released.”
MEC for Community Safety Albert Fritz hopes the arrests will lead to convictions.
“The arrest comes on the back of a 72-hour plan activated by the acting-Provincial Commissioner, Gen. Patekile.
“We need to commend SAPS for their work in this regard. The arrests shows that we can beat crime.”
Khayelitsha Development Forum Chairperson Ndithini Thyido says: “The police arrested them in a very short space of time and I commend General Patekile because he said that arrests are imminent and he stuck to his word.”
mandilakhe.tshwete@inl.co.za