By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider 

A South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldier was killed last week Wednesday in a violent encounter that was seemingly motivated by a robbery. The Western Cape police have made strides in apprehending the people responsible for the murder as three suspects have already been arrested. 

Police Spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa has confirmed that there is an operation taking place which will be led by the Western Cape Serious Violent Crime detectives in tandem with the Provincial Operational Command Centre (POCC) and the Crime Scene Investigation team as they have already apprehended five suspects in Delfta.

“Three of the suspects have been charged with murder and are set to appear in Bellville Magistrates Court on Monday” , said Potelwa.

In a separate incident, a mass shooting took place in Valhalla Park on Thursday in which a five year old girl who was playing in the street had suffered serious injuries due to the gunfire.

 The Anti Gang Unit is working to apprehend the people responsible which has led to them arresting two suspects for attempted murder.

“It is alleged that the shooting stemmed from a fight between two rival gangs, resulting in a group pursuing a gang member and spraying the area with shots,” Potelwa explained. On Tuesday afternoon a third investigation took place in regards to a double murder and five attempted murders in the area of Portland and Mitchell’s Plain. 

The Anti Gang Unit has already arrested one suspect on Wednesday evening and another is expected to face court proceedings on Monday.

In regards to the 37 year old murdered SANDF soldier, according to police reports had responded to a complaint of a shooting that took place at 10:28PM on 8 April in Kokaboom street where they found the soldier had suffered multiple gunshot wounds.

Due to preliminary reports, the soldier was off-duty at the time of his murder and had no linkage to the operation titled “Operation Prosper” which forms part of a separate SANDF initiative.