Cape Town – Five suspects have been arrested in connection with a mass shooting in the Marikana informal settlement in Philippi East, where four people were killed and another person injured over the weekend.
The shooting occurred on Saturday night, March 7, at about 9.30pm on Disa Road in the informal settlement. Three men and a woman were killed during the attack, while another person sustained injuries.
Western Cape police launched a manhunt following the incident, with detectives from the Provincial Serious and Violent Crimes Unit leading the investigation. The unit worked alongside the SAPS Combat Team in an operation aimed at tracking down the perpetrators.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa confirmed that the suspects were arrested during a tracing operation carried out early on Monday morning.
“The arrests were effected early on Monday morning as part of a tracing operation that was initiated after the shooting incident occurred on Disa Road in the Marikana informal settlement of Philippi East,” Potelwa said.
According to Potelwa, five suspects between the ages of 25 and 35 were taken into custody. Two firearms were also seized during the operation and will undergo forensic testing.
#sapsWC [FIGHT AGAINST EXTORTION] #SAPS Provincial Serious Violent Crime detectives supported by the Combat Team working through the night in pursuit of the perpetrators of the four murders and an attempted committed in Marikana on Saturday evening, made a breakthrough and… https://t.co/WUK5RnPuYQ pic.twitter.com/m42RSXXt7Y
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) March 9, 2026
“The tracing operation led to the arrests and confiscation of firearms that will be undergoing ballistics tests to determine if they were utilised in the commission of the murders and other crimes,” she said.
The suspects are facing charges including murder, attempted murder, and the illegal possession of firearms. They are expected to appear in court soon.
Police believe the attack may be linked to extortion-related criminal activity in the area.
Meanwhile, authorities have urged residents of the Marikana community to assist investigators by reporting crimes that may be connected to the suspects. Potelwa encouraged anyone with information to contact the investigating officer, assuring that all information will be treated confidentially.
