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Sunday, November 3, 2024

Construction mafia: Suspect arrested for Wendy Kloppers murder

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A 40-year-old suspect handed himself over to police in connection with the murder of City official Wendy Kloppers, whose murder is being linked to the so-called construction mafia threatening building sites across the Metro.

 

On 16 February 2023, Kloppers was shot dead at the Symphony Way Housing Project in Delft.

 

The shooting was also part of a trend of violence, including petrol bombing, directed at the housing project.

 

It is believed she was killed after the City refused to give in to gangsters who had been demanding work from contractors at the housing project.

 

At the time, the municipality offered R1 million reward for information leading to the arrest and successful prosecution of those responsible.

 

ALSO READ: Reward to catch killers of City official now R1 million

 

Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has welcomed the arrest of the suspect.

 

We hope this arrest is the first step towards full justice for Wendy’s family and colleagues, and for the many unseen beneficiaries of the Delft Symphony Way housing project impacted by violent disruptions at the time of the brazen murder on-site.

 

He is due to appear in court on Tuesday. He has been charged with murder and attempted murder, as a second victim also sustained gun shot wounds at the construction site.

 

Western Cape police spokesperson Captain Frederick van Wyk said: “The relentless investigation by members attached to the provincial Organised Crime Investigation Unit led to a 40-year-old suspect handing himself over to SAPS after detectives were on his trail.”

 

Hill-Lewis says the City’s R1 million reward still stands for information that will lead to the successful prosecution of suspects.

 

Certainly, this single suspect never acted alone. We are closely following developments and call on the public to come forward with information to assist the prosecution.

 

In March 2023, a private donor enabled the upping of the City’s reward to R1 million.

 

General rewards are also on offer for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of those linked to extortion and violence against City projects and staff.

 

This forms part of a metro-wide anti-extortion campaign titled ‘Enough. Genoeg. Kwanele’ launched by Mayor Hill-Lewis last year.

 

Hill-Lewis says anonymous tip-offs are welcomed.

 

Call: 0800 1100 77

 

RELATED: ‘Construction mafia’, extortion concerns at City of Cape Town sites

Liesl Smit
Liesl Smit
Liesl is the Smile 90.4FM News Manager. She has been at Smile since 2016, with nearly 20 years experience in the radio industry, including reading news, field reporting and producing. In 2008 she won the Vodacom Journalist of the Year Award, Western Cape region. liesl@smile904.fm

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