Having spent a weekend fearful of possible retaliations, the Lavender Hill community has welcomed the arrest of a suspect in connection with the murders of a suspected gangster and his 11-year-old son.
On Tuesday, police announced that a 22-year-old man was arrested on Monday afternoon following last week’s killing of a 42-year-old man and his son.
Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg said members attached to the Western Cape Anti-Gang Unit arrested the man mere metres away from where the incident occurred in Shepherd Way, Lavender Hill, on Friday evening.
“On Monday evening the detectives made a breakthrough in the case when they conducted a tracing operation which led them to an address in Cradock Road, Steenberg, where a 22-year-old male was arrested in connection with the murder,” said Twigg.
Community leader Howard Soetwater previously told Weekend Argus that the father and son were sitting inside their home when a gunman entered and opened fire on them, killing the 42-year-old man, his son and injuring another minor.
The shooting led to fears of possible retaliation from the Fast Guns gang, who were alleged to have links to the murdered man.
Community activist, Clive Jacobs, commended the community for standing together to ensure the alleged perpetrator would be apprehended.
“I am happy that there has been an arrest. I am even more happy that the community stood up and raised their voices by informing the police that the shooter is well known in the area,” he said.
“This is what it will take to change our community. It will take Lavender Hill to change Lavender Hill.”
Jacobs also encouraged the community to follow up on such cases to ensure justice was served.
“People like this should be behind bars and should sit for years. We don’t need things like this in our community.
“We are tired of innocent people being shot. It's unfair and it's wrong.”
The community has in the past made several calls to the provincial government and SAPS to ensure safety in the area.
In July, the residents of Lavender Hill marched on the Steenberg police station, demanding better policing in the area and a change in management at the police stations serving their community.
Weekend Argus