EXCLUSIVE | Joburg ISIS accused being probed for possible links to 2020 New Year's Day Melville shooting
EWN has reliably learned that Hawks’ CATS are investigating Zayd Gangat, who is understood to have links to the Melville shooting, which claimed the lives of two people and saw six others injured.
- Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks)
- Johannesburg
- Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS)
FILE: A candle lighting ceremony was held for the victims of the New Year's Day shooting at Poppy’s Restaurant in Melville in 2020. Picture: EWN
JOHANNESBURG - A Johannesburg man with links to the Islamic State of Iraq (ISIS) is being probed for his possible involvement in the New Year’s Day Poppy’s Restaurant shooting in Melville in 2020.
EWN has reliably learned that Hawks’ CATS (Crimes Against The State) are investigating Zayd Gangat, who is understood to have links to the Melville shooting, which claimed the lives of two people and saw six others injured.
Gangat was arrested on Monday together with four others, Tofik Shifa, Emmanuel Bizanama, Muhamed Touray, and Yunus Mohamad Akbar, in an intelligence-driven operation.
Police linked the four men to the kidnapping of an Ethiopian national from a Norwood restaurant on Sunday.
Crime intelligence operatives, working under the instruction of Major-General Feroz Khan, together with members of NIU, JMPD tactical response and private security company, Vision Tactical, traced the victim to a house in Kensington, Johannesburg.
A shoot-out ensued and one suspect was shot dead.
Police recovered four illegal firearms, including an AK4, as well as vehicles used in the commission of the crime.
Items belonging to the victim, including luxury watches and jewellery, were found in a vehicle the accused were driving.
Both Gangat and Akbar are sanctioned by the US Treasury for their involvement in ISIS.
Gangat is said to be an ISIS facilitator and trainer and was sanctioned by the US in July last year, while Akbar was sanctioned in November 2022.
Akbar was previously arrested alongside 11 others in Durban after being accused of orchestrating an attack at the Imam Hussain Mosque in 2019, which resulted in the death of Verulam mechanic, Abbas Essop, as well as a series of bomb threats at Woolworths in 2018.
EWN understands that Gangat is being investigated in relation to the Melville shooting after police positively identified the vehicle he was driving just prior to his arrest on Monday.
The vehicle in question, as well as the occupants, were being sought after following the New Year's Day shooting.
When questioned about Gangat’s links to the Melville shooting, Hawks spokesperson Wendy Nkabi said: "The investigation is still at an early stage to reveal the history of the suspect."
She referred EWN to SAPS for comment on the New Year's Day shooting.
Police spokesperson, Athlenda Mathe, did not comment and referred EWN back to the Hawks.