The police have mobilised maximum resources after it was revealed that Deputy Police Minister Cassel Mathale’s protector was among the five victims of a mass shooting in Gugulethu over the weekend.

Warrant Officer Lindela Mraqisa was shot and killed in Gugulethu on Saturday evening.

He served as the close protector for the Deputy Minister of Police since 2019.

Provincial serious violent crimes (SVC) detectives have initiated a murder investigation following the incident where Mraqisa, three other men and a woman were shot.

Police reports indicate that Mraqisa and the four other victims were parked in two vehicles on the side of the road in NY 5 in Gugulethu at approximately 23:00.

A number of suspects were then dropped off by another vehicle, a few metres away from the two cars.

The suspects approached the two vehicles and started firing numerous shots at the two parked vehicles.

After shooting, the suspects fled in the vehicle that had earlier dropped them.

No arrests have been effected yet.

The shooting follows another shooting also in Gugulethu where four people in two vehicles were shot and killed.

Police killings are in the spotlight after a spate of murders in recent months.

Cape Town Police are also probing the murder of a Samora Machel-based police woman.

The 29-year-old victim was found dead on Sunday morning. A 30-year-old suspect has since been apprehended for the killing.

The Police’s Novela Potelwa says the possibility that she was raped forms part of the investigation.

Police Minister Bheki Cele has yet again encouraged police officers to defend themselves when encountering violent criminals.