Police Arrest Five Suspects in Connection with Murder of 14-Year-Old Boy in Elsies River. Image: SABC News.
(The Post News)- Five suspects are expected to appear in the Goodwood Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 22 September 2025, in connection with the murder of a teenager in Elsies River on the Cape Flats.
The 14-year-old victim was gunned down on Friday afternoon in what police believe to be a gang-related incident.
Suspects Fled the Scene on Foot
Police spokesperson Captain FC Van Wyk confirmed the arrests. “Sterling investigation and the following up on all intelligence gathered by Elsies River detectives and members attached to the Anti-Gang Unit led to the arrest of five suspects aged 16, 21, 23, 27, and 30 for the murder of the 14-year-old victim,” he said.
Van Wyk added that officers found the victim lying on the road with multiple gunshot wounds to the head. Despite efforts by paramedics from the Western Cape Ambulance Service, the boy was declared dead at the scene.
Norman Janjes, chairperson of the Elsies River Community Policing Forum, called for long-term solutions to address the root causes of gang violence. “We need more than arrests; we need prevention. Intervention programs, especially for young people, are critical if we want to break this cycle,” said Janjes.
The Western Cape Gang Monitor has recorded a surge in gang-related murders, with more than 490 killings reported across the province in the past six months, many involving children caught in crossfire. Poverty, unemployment, and easy access to firearms continue to fuel the crisis on the Cape Flats.
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