The Western Cape Hawks have arrested a 16-year-old boy for contravening the Protection of Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorist and Related Activities Act ( POCDATARA) and Malicious Damage to Property.
16-year-old boy arrested
Hawks WC Spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Siyabulela Vukubi says the teenager in November 2023 allegedly destroyed the Statue of Mary at the Melkbosstrand Catholic Church by beheading and spray painting it with unfamiliar slogans.
Beheading of a church statue (November 2023) in Melkbosstrand
Vukubi says that during an investigation in December 2023, it was established that he had participated in social media chat groups and had been recruited to be an extremist. He appeared in court yesterday and will appear again today for legal representation.
A multi-disciplinary intelligence-driven operational team arrested the juvenile suspect on 27 March 2025. The team consisted of members of the Hawks’ Crimes Against The State (CATS), Western Cape National Intervention Unit and Western Cape Bomb Disposal Unit.
This article has been updated with further/additional information.
