Four Egyptian nationals are among a group of 12 people who are returning to court soon for a recent house robbery that turned fatal in Riversdale.
The suspects were arrested after a violent attack at a home in Van Riebeeck Street, where the residents were assaulted and household items, including a television set, three cell phones and a handbag were stolen.
“On Tuesday, 12 August 2025 at about 23:00 police were summoned to a house at Van Riebeeck Street, Riversdale where a group ransacked a house and assaulted the occupants,” said Sergeant Chris Spies.
Police later discovered that a resident, a 33-year-old man, was missing.
A search ensued, which led to the arrest of some suspects in Riversdale and further arrests near Albertinia.
“Investigation led to the search for two vehicles, a green Toyota Corolla and a white Opel Corsa, which were later found in the vicinity of the Riversdale police station and another en route to Mossel Bay. The police arrested the occupants of the vehicles. More persons of interest were later cornered at Steg Road, Riversdale as well as on a gravel road near Albertinia with sharp objects in their possession. Some of the stolen items were also found in the possession of the men. They were subsequently arrested,” clarified Spies.
Spies added that detectives were then led to a farm on Steg Road, where the missing resident’s body was found with multiple wounds to his head, back and body. He was declared dead at the scene.
The 12 accused first appeared in the Riversdale Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 15 August 2025, where they were remanded in custody.
They are facing charges of murder, kidnapping, house robbery, malicious damage to property and possession of suspected stolen property.
The case was postponed to Wednesday, 20 August 2025, for a formal bail application.
Spies further noted that there’s a possibility that these incidents are linked to the death of a 25-year-old Egyptian man over the past weekend.
Meanwhile, members of the Public Order Police Unit have been deployed to Riversdale to monitor for any further incidents.
