Cape Town – Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has condemned the attack on local community patrollers in Soshanguve’s Marry Me informal settlement, where five patrollers were killed, and eight others were hospitalised during a shootout with armed men over the weekend.
The victims were patrolling when the altercation occurred.
According to police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili, officers responded to the crime scene at around 06:00, where they found four bodies with gunshot wounds, some partially burned.
Witnesses reported that eight other victims were rushed to hospital in private vehicles and ambulances.
#sapsGP The police in Soshanguve responded to a crime scene this morning 22/03 at Marry Me Informal Settlement Ext 3. The police found four bodies with gunshot wounds and partially burned. Witnesses reported that other victims, confirmed to be eight, were taken to hospital in… pic.twitter.com/ZDc4w7t3nY
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) March 22, 2025
“Preliminary investigations suggests that at about 03:00, a group of community based patrollers were converging to continue with their patrols when they noticed five people on the street.
“When the group approached the five, a quarrel broke which ended with four dead and eight injured,” Muridili said.
Mchunu’s spokesperson, Kamogelo Mogotsi, praised the patrollers for their commitment to combating crime and emphasised the unjust nature of the attack.
We condemn the attack on community patrollers in Soshanguve. Our officers are hard at work on the ground and we urge community members to work with them in bringing those responsible to book. pic.twitter.com/46oT7KwHMp
— Senzo Mchunu (@Senzo_Mchunu_) March 24, 2025
“We condemn in the strongest terms the cold-blooded murders and criminality that took place in Marry Me. These unarmed members of the community were committed against crime and improving the safety of their community. It was remarkable that they took a stand against crime and that is the right thing to do,” Mogotsi said.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi visited the community on Sunday.
[HAPPENING NOW]: Gauteng Premier, Panyaza @Lesufi is this morning visiting the families of community patrollers who were shot and killed at the Marry Me Informal Settlement in Soshanguve in the early hours of Saturday morning. pic.twitter.com/vhpYuLDY6s
— Gauteng Provincial Gov (@GautengProvince) March 23, 2025
[WATCH]: Premier @Lesufi is visiting the families of community patrollers who were killed in Mary Me Informal Settlement in Soshanguve. pic.twitter.com/xTnB6QTIzD
— Gauteng Provincial Gov (@GautengProvince) March 23, 2025
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: X/@SAPoliceService
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Betha Madhomu
