A Camp’s Bay murder, apparently perpetrated at the end of last year, remains unsolved. Meanwhile, Cape Town Police have asked the public to help them find two persons of interest, who were spotted leaving the victim’s home on the 28th of December 2025 at around 15:45 pm.

Camp’s Bay murder remains unsolved

Captain Frederick Van Wyk says officers had found the body of 86-year-old Gerhard Ernst Kopatz in a separate apartment at his house in Francolin Street, Camp’s Bay, at around 12:00 on 30 December 2025. He says the victim was assaulted and had been tied up. At this stage, his preliminary cause of death is strangulation.

Persons of interest sought by Detectives in connection with Camp’s Bay murder

Detectives from the Provincial Serious and Violent Crimes Unit have called on the public to assist them in tracing the persons who are depicted in the photos, in this article. They are persons of interest, with possible links to the Camp’s Bay murder.

Serious and violent crimes investigating

Van Wyk says 2 cellular telephones, the victim’s laptop as well as his bank cards are missing from his house and are presumed stolen. He says the deceased were last seen alive by neighbours on 28 December 2025, at approximately 15:45 pm. Less than 15 minutes later, surveillance footage from the street had captured two males leaving the deceased’s house. The identities of the two men are not known at this stage. It’s believed that they can assist in the investigation.

The Police have asked anyone with information who can assist with the probe to contact the investigating officer Detective Lieutenant Colonel Adrian Pretorius on 082 777 8499. You can also alternatively call Crime Stop on 08600 10111.

Another mass shooting has shaken the Cape Flats, this time in Kleinvlei.

A social gathering turned tragic when unknown gunmen opened fire in a public park between Arago Close and Grosvenor Avenue, High Places, leaving two fatally wounded and two others injured last night.

Police spokesperson F.C Van Wyk says two counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder have been registered.

“According to reports the victims were sitting in the park, when unidentified males approached them and randomly started shooting at them. A 21-year-old female died on the scene. Three males aged 20, 22 and 24 were taken to different hospitals for medical treatment where the 22-year-old male died due to injuries sustained.”

Van Wyk confirmed that a 34-year-old man was arrested after attempting to flee the scene.

“The suspects fled on foot. The South African Police Service (SAPS) members who were in the vicinity, heard the shots. Members reacted and chased the suspects and apprehended a 34-year-old man. The suspect will appear in the Bluedowns Magistrates court once charged.”

Van Wyk added that the motive for this incident is believed to be gang related, as investigations continue.

The City of Cape Town believes there may be deliberate criminal intent at play, amid a major surge in arson cases recorded in the latest national crime statistics. 

Cape Town ranked highest in the country for arson cases during the third quarter crime reporting period, with 194 incidents registered between October and December 2025 in the Western Cape. During the same period in 2024, 192 cases were registered in the province.

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Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, said this is deeply concerning, especially after multiple fires broke out near Devil’s Peak along Phillip Kgosana Drive on Monday. 

He noted that firefighting teams were again confronted with suspicious circumstances. 

“Our Fire & Rescue service responded today to another fire in Table Mountain National Park, to what again appeared to be a case of arson,” he said. 

The first fire was reported along that road near Vredehoek at 13:00, after which the Table Mountain fire and two others were ignited. Smith said all the fires were on the same route. 

“Such a situation could quickly result in widespread disaster, following a period of high temperatures in our City over recent days which has left vegetation dry and flammable – something any arsonist must have been well aware of,” he added. 

Smith noted that Fire & Rescue services responded to 3,492 vegetation fires between December 2025 and January 2026, which he said was 279 more incidents than during the same period in the previous year. 

Taking this in account and referencing the Police Ministry’s statistics mentioned earlier, Smith raised concern.  

“This suggests there is credible evidence of a purposeful criminal element seeking to cause widespread destruction, for whatever reason. Cape Town is no stranger to such criminality. In 2021, 7 months before the local government elections, a forensic report identified arson that resulted in a fire almost at the very same location. That incident caused damages estimated to be over R1 billion, but the greatest loss came from permanently losing a part of our heritage when the UCT Library Archives were destroyed, along with the iconic Mostert’s Mill, which has since been rebuilt,” said Smith.  

Smith highlighted other arson cases in the city, such as when water infrastructure was targeted in suspected arson attacks in Wallacedene in 2022 and at the Steenbras Dam water treatment plant in Gordon’s Bay in 2024, followed by incidents at Slangkop Lighthouse and Pinehaven. He added that a vehicle was also seen driving away from a fire on Redhill at Table Mountain National Park, which he said is the subject of an official probe by SANParks as of January 2025.  

“While the municipality has done everything possible to protect its residents, it’s now up to the South African Police Service to investigate and prosecute those responsible for any criminality,” said Smith. 

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