There’s been a shake-up at the Gugulethu police station.
The Western Cape police management has announced that there will be some changes at the station, in the wake of two mass killings in the township in the space of less than a week.
Station commander, Brigadier Nokuzola Phethe will be redeployed to Paarl.
While Atlantis station commander, Colonel Cyril Nkuna will now lead the Gugulethu police station.
The new management is set to stabilise the area, following the recent violence.
Five men were gunned down in KTC last week Monday.
Five days later another mass shooting was reported in Gugulethu.
In that attack in NY5 , five more people, including Deputy Police Minister Casel Mathale’s bodyguard – Warrant Officer Lindela Mraqisa were killed.
Provincial commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile says however that it’s common to restructure police stations.
“You know when you are playing on the field; you have players, and a coach. As they play you change players, you put in new players so that others can go elsewhere and change positions. That’s we have done in Gugulethu. There is an acting station commander in Gugulethu, Colonel Nkune. We have no doubt that he will make a big impact and a change in the area. He also hails from there and he had worker at the station before”.
While the changes take place, Police Minister Bheki Cele says the motive behind these mass shootings in the area is yet to be confirmed.
“Arrests cannot be a luxury or a nice to have. Whatever the motive for these shootings and murders is, decisive police action and robust community involvement is urgent, if we are to put an end to this.
Meanwhile the detectives have identified possible suspects who are believed to have killed at least ten people in two separate mass shootings in Gugulethu.
Seven suspects have been identified and police are hot on the heels of the suspects for the murders in KTC, while three people are being sought for the shootings in NY5.
