17-Year-Old Arrested for Double Murder in Cape Town, Second Suspect Arrested With Gun

Anneliese van der Merwe Published 9 hours ago

4 min read

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A 17-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with a double murder in Cape Town following a tracing operation by Anti-Gang Unit detectives.

The teenager was arrested on Sunday, 18 October 2026, at Vygieskraal informal settlement in Athlone. He is accused of involvement in a fatal shooting that took place along Lower Klipfontein Road on 24 August 2026.

According to police, the suspect faces two counts of murder and is expected to appear before the Athlone Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 19 October 2026.

The arrest follows investigative efforts by detectives to trace the suspect in connection with the August shooting. Police have not disclosed further details about the identities of the two victims or the circumstances surrounding the incident.

In a separate incident in the same informal settlement, police arrested another man after discovering a firearm and ammunition during foot patrols.

Officers conducting patrols in Vygieskraal reportedly noticed a man behaving suspiciously and proceeded to search him. The search led to the discovery of a 9mm pistol and 15 rounds of ammunition.

The man was arrested and faces charges of possessing an unlicensed firearm and illegally possessing ammunition. He was also expected to appear before the Athlone Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 19 October.

The two arrests involved separate investigations and different alleged offences. Police have not indicated that the firearm recovered during the foot patrol is linked to the double murder investigation.

The arrests form part of police efforts to trace wanted suspects and remove illegal firearms and ammunition from communities.

The 17-year-old remains a murder suspect, and the allegations against him will be dealt with through the criminal justice system.

OTHER NEWS

Bloemfontein Man Arrested After Police Find M26 Hand Grenade and Imitation Firearm

A 28-year-old man is expected to appear in court after police discovered a used M26 hand-practice grenade and an imitation firearm during an intelligence-driven operation in Bloemfontein.

The suspect was arrested on Saturday, 17 October 2026, after members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) followed up information about a person allegedly in possession of an illegal firearm.

According to the police, three members of the Public Order Policing (POP) Unit and a sergeant from the Diving Unit were involved in the operation. The officers proceeded to identified premises, where they found an informal structure behind the main house and encountered the suspect.

During a search, police discovered a black imitation firearm bearing the description “GLOCK C15”. The item did not have a magazine or trigger.

Officers also found a used hand grenade inside a bag. The discovery prompted police to call in the SAPS Bomb and Explosives Unit and the Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) to examine the items.

The Bomb and Explosives Unit identified the device as an M26 hand-practice grenade that had already been used. Police reported that it did not contain a detonator or safety lever, and no visible lot number was present.

The grenade’s discovery raised concerns about how the device came into the suspect’s possession. Police stated that possession of this type of grenade is restricted to authorised members of the SAPS and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), subject to the necessary permission.

Given these restrictions and the circumstances in which the grenade was found, it was suspected to be stolen property.

The 28-year-old was subsequently arrested and detained on a charge of possession of suspected stolen property. Both the imitation firearm and the grenade were seized and booked in as exhibits for further investigation.

The suspect is expected to appear in court soon. Investigations are continuing to establish the circumstances surrounding the possession of the items.

Police have not indicated that the imitation firearm was used in a crime, and the reported discovery of the grenade does not, by itself, establish that the suspect was involved in any other offence.