11 OCTOBER 2021: Body-worn camera footage recorded live at a crime scene in the Cape Town CBD by a Public Safety Officer of the Cape Town Central City Improvement District (CCID) has led to the swift arrest of three suspects wanted for murder following the assault and subsequent death of a fellow motorist with whom they were involved in a car accident.
The suspects were arrested on Friday by a 20-strong SAPS team, who used the camera footage from a CCID officer who rushed to the scene as it was unfolding.
The motor vehicle accident took place on Tuesday, 5 October, at about 14h15 in Castle St near the Castle of Good Hope entrance opposite the Grand Parade.
After the accident, the suspects sped off in their vehicle, coming to a forced stop at the nearby traffic intersection at Buitenkant and Darling streets. The driver of the other vehicle gave chase on foot and then stood in front of their vehicle to prevent them from driving off.
A CCID Public Safety Officer who was patrolling nearby immediately rushed to the scene, switched on his body-worn camera (BWC) and called for back-up when the suspects got out of their car, and started looking for implements with which to allegedly assault the other driver.
One of the suspects allegedly retrieved a wheel spanner from the boot, while another allegedly retrieved a large knife from a knife kit. The CCID PSO tried to intervene, but the exchange between the vehicle occupants became more heated and resulted in the other driver being stabbed in the shoulder after which the suspects fled the scene in their car.
“The CCID PSO immediately called for medical assistance and the victim was helped at the scene of the crime and taken to hospital. Unfortunately, he died the following day,” confirms CCID Safety & Security manager, Mo Hendricks.
Hendricks says thanks to the vigilance of the CCID officer, who had noted the make, model and registration number of the suspects’ vehicle and with the clear visual and audio camera footage of the incident, the suspects were identified,” Hendricks says.
SAPS assembled a 20-strong tracing team – comprising sector managers, crime prevention officers and detectives – which quickly tracked the suspects and the vehicle to Masiphumelele, where they were arrested in the early hours of Friday morning.
“The three suspects, which are between 21 and 45 years of age, have been charged with murder and are being detained at Cape Town Central Police Station,” confirms Hendricks. “All items that can be seen on the BWC footage, including the knife set, the wheel spanner, clothing worn by the suspects and the car involved in the accident were seized by SAPS.”
Hendricks commended the SAPS joint operation and also praised the CCID PSO for their work in bringing the criminals to book. “All of our 300 Public Safety Officers, who are on patrol in the CBD in shifts 24/7 are equipped with body-worn cameras and this technology is invaluable in fighting and preventing crime in the Central City.”
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Issued by Sharon Sorour-Morris, Communications manager of the CCID
Cell: 082 216 0835
Email: sharon@capetownccid.org