Mfuleni mass shooting: Victim’s relative says there's some comfort in arrest of alleged killers
Seven suspects linked to the murders of five people in the Cape Town township have been arrested.
Suspects linked to the mass murders in Cape Town's Mfuleni township, Cape Town appeared briefly at the Blue Downs Magistrate’s court on 5 December 2024. Picture: Ntuthuzelo Nene/Eyewitness News
CAPE TOWN - A relative of one of the victims of a mass killing in Mfuleni says they've found some comfort in knowing that the alleged killers are behind bars.
Seven suspects linked to the murders of five people were arrested.
They made their first court appearance on Thursday at the Blue Downs Magistrates Court.
The five people were shot dead in the township on Sunday in what police believe to be an extortion-related attack.
The aunt of one of the victims said the family had not taken her nephew's murder well.
She described her nephew as a caring person who loved his family and his child.
The aunt said she also feels sorry for the suspects' families.
"I'm pained to see that the alleged killers are young. I feel for their parents because those are kids, and I thought I was going to see older people. I'm also a parent of a 16-year-old.”
Western Cape Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile, meanwhile, believes they have a strong case against the suspects.
Of the seven suspects, the State is only able to link two of them to the mass murders, Vuyile Gqomo and Lwando Nakani.
Lilitha Phalane and Siphelele Gqomo, and three others are charged with the illegal possession of ammunition and firearms.
Patekile said, "We believe that we have a strong case against them relating to the murders that took place there on that day."