Cape Town – Law-enforcement authorities say they have made a significant breakthrough in the investigation of two separate mass murder incidents in Philippi East, Cape Town, with five suspects now facing charges in court.
According to South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson Colonel Andrè Traut, “relentless investigative work by the SVC detectives resulted in the arrest of four suspects yesterday, two of them juveniles, believed to be behind the horrific incident of 30 September in which two victims were shot, set alight, and a third narrowly escaped.”
He added that the investigation “has also established a direct link between this case and another gruesome attack earlier in October, where seven victims were murdered and set alight.”
The suspects named include Lilitha Nanzani, Sinothando Songca, Asavela Tshaya and two juveniles. All five are expected to appear before the Athlone Magistrate’s Court, where both matters will be joined.
#sapsWC #SAPS Western Cape PC, Lt Gen (Adv) Thembisile Patekile commends Provincial Serious and Violent Crimes Unit detectives for breakthrough in double murder investigation linked to Philippi East mass killing.
Relentless investigative work by the SVC detectives resulted in… pic.twitter.com/mL5qHa98o4
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) November 7, 2025
Western Cape provincial police commissioner Lieutenant‑General Thembisile Patekile commended the detectives: “These arrests send a clear message that the South African Police Service will not tolerate barbaric acts of violence that rob communities of their safety and dignity.”
Police confirmed that one of the juveniles has been placed in a place of safety, and the other is detained at the juvenile section of the prison.
Earlier this year, SAPS had already arrested seven suspects aged between 16 and 22 in connection with a previous mass murder in Philippi East.
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Compiled by Lisabeal Nqamqhele
