Manenberg SAPS, with support from the Anti-Gang Unit (AGU) and the Western Cape Flying Squad, arrested six men in separate incidents for charges relating to murder, attempted murder, and the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
The high-density patrols were in response to the gang violence flare-up in the precinct.
On Friday February 14, members of the Flying Squad patrolled the streets of Manenberg in search of a silver Audi, seen driving away from an attempted murder scene in the vicinity of Irvine Road.
Manenberg SAPS spokesperson Captain Ian Bennett, said: “Eyewitnesses described the suspects as wearing wigs as they fled in the silver Audi. The Flying Squad members spotted the vehicle in Gonubie Street and pulled it over. Five men, aged 18, 21, 34, 38, and 40 years, were found in the vehicle along with wigs and a 9mm pistol belonging to SAPS that had been reported stolen in the Nyanga policing precinct. The five men were arrested and will be charged with the illegal possession of a firearm, ammunition, and attempted murder.”
Later that same evening, a team of AGU members patrolled Sonderend Street, Manenberg, a known gang stronghold. They noticed two men walking suspiciously in the area.
As SAPS members approached, the two men dropped something and ran away, leaving behind their illegal possessions.
It was found that they had dropped a 9mm pistol and 40 rounds of 9mm ammunition, along with ten units of tik and ten mandrax tablets.
The pistol will be sent for ballistic testing to check if it has been used in the commission of any recent murders.
Meanwhile, Captain Bennett noted that during a tracing operation of wanted persons on existing cases, a 31-year-old man, wanted in connection with multiple murders and attempted murders in Karen Court, Manenberg, was arrested after evading the law for months.
