Authorities are tightening the noose on drug dealers across the Cape Flats, sending a strong warning that the trade destroying local communities will not be tolerated.

Following a series of intelligence-driven operations carried out this week, multiple suspects were arrested in areas already grappling with the devastating effects of substance abuse.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) says a 29-year-old was arrested in Lentegeur, Mitchell’s Plain, on Tuesday after they received a tip-off about illegal drug trade in the area.

“They followed up and searched houses in the area for drugs and firearms. In the midst of that, a 29-year-old male suspect was found with 250 mandrax tablets plus a cellphone in his home at Honey Suckle Street.”

Barely two hours later, a teenager was apprehended for the illegal possession of drugs in Aalwyn Street.

“He was found with 37 sachets of tik, seven heroin straws and 30 mandrax tablets which were then seized and booked in as exhibits.”

In a separate raid, a large quantity of drugs was seized in Belhar yesterday, which led to the arrest of a 33-year-old man.

“The suspect was found in possession of 140 sachets of cocaine and 100 sachets of tik.”

The suspects are due to appear in the Mitchell’s Plain Magistrate’s Court and the Bellville Magistrate’s Court once charged.

The City of Cape Town has sounded an early warning alarm as the dams supplying the Metro with water have now dropped to just 50%.

The City says this is due to spiking water usage, coupled with last week’s heat wave.

Residents have now been prompted to use water only for strictly essential purposes, as the outlook for winter shows below-average rainfall.

“Team Cape Town, we have done it before and can do it again. As Cape Town experiences soaring temperatures this week, our call is for Team Cape Town to please keep hydrated and cool, while remembering to use water wisely and responsibly in and around our homes, businesses and industries, and for essential purposes only.”

The MMC for Water and Sanitation, Zahid Badroodien, says our collective water usage (currently well above 1,000 mega-litres per day) between now and May is crucial.

He says, based on the current water usage trend, dam storage levels could drop as low as 40% by May.

“Cape Town is in an early warning phase that reflects lower-than-expected dam levels and signals the need for continued careful use of water, even though taps are running normally.”

He says while we are not in a drought, the window to avoid water restrictions later this year is narrowing.

“We are at a pivotal stage in our water journey this hydrological year, also known as the rainy season, where every drop matters now and together, we can still change the high usage trend we have been seeing over recent weeks, to manage our dam levels.”

Essential tips to keep water usage down:

• Find and fix water leaks on your property.
• If dripping taps, leaking toilets and faulty plumbing go undetected and ignored for a long time, a lot of water is wasted.
• Monitor your own usage and make the effort to save water.
• Only water the garden at night to prevent evaporation and avoid topping up swimming pools or pool inflatables unnecessarily.
• Switch to treated effluent re-use for industrial irrigation or construction purposes.
• Report burst municipal pipes immediately to the City through formal channels.

Ways to report a leak or a pipe burst:

• Call 086 010 3089 (select option 2)
• SMS 31373
• WhatsApp 060 018 1505
• Email water@capetown.gov.za

More information HERE.

Tragedy struck Tierkloof Street in Tafelsig last night when two young men were killed in a shooting incident, leaving another person injured.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) says following a complaint of an active shooting in the area, police arrived at the mentioned address and found the victims with gunshot wounds to their bodies. Police spokesperson Wesley Twigg says an 18-year-old was declared dead on the scene.

“The 18-year-old victim was pronounced deceased on the scene by medical personnel, while the 26 and 27-year-old victims were taken to a medical facility for treatment, where the 27-year-old male was declared deceased.”

Twigg says the attack, which is believed to be gang related, is being investigated by the Mitchell’s Plain police.

“Mitchell’s Plain police registered two counts of murder and one of attempted murder. The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation and arrests are yet to be made.”

While the suspect or suspects behind the fatal attack remain at large, police are appealing to anyone with information to assist with the ongoing investigation.

“Anyone with any information about this shooting incident can contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the mobile application MySAPS anonymously.”

A string of deadly shootings on the Cape Flats, particularly in the neighbouring suburbs of Elsies River and Bishop Lavis, has residents on edge, as they fear retaliation shootings from gangs and further bloodshed.  

On Wednesday night, two teenagers, aged 16 and 19, were gunned down in a suspected gang-related shooting in Leonsdale, while a 12-year-old girl and a 63-year-old woman were wounded after being caught in the crossfire. 

Earlier this week, a 42-year-old man believed to be a gang leader was shot and killed at the corner of 35th Street and Old Stellenbosch Road. Police confirmed they are investigating a possible gang-related motive.  

READ MORE: 2 teens killed, girl & elderly woman injured amid gang shootings in Elsies River – Smile 90.4FM

Multiple recent shootings in Kalksteenfontein, part of the broader Bishop Lavis, left seven people dead and others wounded, in what authorities believe are gang-related incidents. These included a mass shooting in Soetkop Street, as well as separate attacks in Hanekam Street and Buttercup Street. 

READ MORE:  Kalksteenfontein Community on Edge After Spate of Gang Killings – Smile 90.4FM

Community leaders say the violence has pushed residents to the brink. 

The Elsies River Safety Initiative’s Imraahn Mukkadam said the situation on the Cape Flats “resembles a low-intensity civil war, with armed groups engaging in urban conflict”. 

“Often, for no apparent reason other than petty disputes over drug turf and extortion territories, lives are lost. Each death fuels retaliatory attacks, perpetuating a relentless cycle of violence,” said Mukkadam.  

He further highlighted concerns over understaffing and under-resourcing at the Elsies River police station, the flow of firearms in these communities, as well as the failure of courts to keep gangsters behind bars. 

He said these are among the key issues that should be addressed, while also calling for better coordination between the SAPS, Metro Police, and other policing entities because “the current fragmented and disproportionate deployment of resources is failing our people”. 

Mukkadam said they are collaborating with another community safety organisation, the Inspire Network, to host a mass community meeting sometime next week and encourage “every resident, every parent, every business owner, and every stakeholder” to rise up against the ongoing violence.  

“We must unite to take back our streets from the criminals who have terrorised us for far too long. We cannot continue to live in fear. We cannot continue to count bodies,” said Mukkadam.  

Echoing these concerns, the Elsies River Community Policing Forum chairperson Marius Fourie noted that many victims are often innocent bystanders, especially the victims in the Wednesday incident.  

“They did not do anything wrong. They were not criminals. They were not gangsters… There are kids that has been shot dead for no apparent reason,” said Fourie  

He also highlighted the growing fear in the community.  

“I do believe the community fear retaliation, and they are scared of that because of the [severity] of this incident.” 

Fourie urged anyone with information on the latest incidents in Elsies River to report it to the CPF’s tip-off line, 073 264 6099.  

Meanwhile, the SAPS has confirmed that the national military is preparing for its deployment to crime- and gang hotspots on the Cape Flats.  

READ MORE: WC SAPS confirms operational exercises underway ahead of SANDF deployment – Smile 90.4FM

Cape Town Police need the help of residents to trace a person of interest. The man is being sought in connection with a murder and an attempted murder in Mfuleni in February.

Cape Town Police need the help of residents to trace a person of interest

According to Captain Frederick van Wyk 2 friends were at a shop at about 21:30 on Saturday (21 February) in Driftsands, Mfuleni, to buy food. He says that while they were waiting at the shop on the corner of Duif and Langeni Streets, an unknown faded-silver, brownish Datsun seven-seater vehicle stopped at the cafe.

Randomly fired shots

Van Wyk says 3 unidentified males got out of the vehicle and randomly fired shots at the two men, waiting for their food. He says the one victim was shot in both legs and was assaulted by one of the suspects. The other victim was shot in the head and upper body. Van Wyk added that the second unidentified male was busy recording the whole ordeal and shouting at the gunman to shoot. The suspects were then seen fleeing the scene in the same vehicle they arrived in.

Person of interest in a murder and attempted murder case

Van Wyk says both victims were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. It was later established that one of the victims had died on his arrival at the hospital. Detectives from the Provincial Serious and Violent Crime Unit then sought to retrieve footage from surveillance cameras in the area where the crime had occurred. He says it then became clear that the person they were looking for was a person of interest in the case. Officers believe he will be able to help with the investigation.

Call for information

Officers have now asked members of the public to help them trace the person depicted in the supplied photos. He’s a person of interest in a murder and an attempted murder case committed in Mfuleni. People who have information that can assist the Police with the investigation are asked to contact the investigating officer. He is Detective Captain Johan Louw. He can be reached on 082 522 1529. At the same time, you could also get into contact with the Police by calling the Crime Stop 08600 10111.