Arrest made in Nelspruit grandmother's murder amid rising roadside crime

A 33-year-old suspect has been arrested for the murder of 64-year-old Karin van Aardt following an intensive joint operation between SAPS and the City of Cape Town — a breakthrough welcomed by authorities, but one that has done little to ease mounting concerns about violent roadside crime across the city.

Brigadier Novela Potelwa said officers acted rapidly after the attack. “After the disturbing incident, integrated deployments worked around the clock in search of the perpetrators. Armed with vital intelligence, the law enforcement officials pounced on the suspect in Langa. He was questioned by detectives who later charged him with murder and aggravated robbery.”

Potelwa said more arrests are expected. “As the investigation unfolds, the arrest of more suspects is expected.

"She confirmed that the arrested Langa resident will appear in the Bishop Lavis Magistrate’s Court on Thursday and added that police and City law enforcement have intensified deployments for the festive period.

Van Aardt, a grandmother from Nelspruit, had just arrived in Cape Town to celebrate her granddaughter’s birthday when she was fatally attacked during a smash-and-grab at Jakkalsvlei Avenue and Jakes Gerwel Drive. Her murder triggered an outpouring of public anger and renewed scrutiny of escalating roadside attacks, particularly on notorious corridors such as Jakes Gerwel Drive.

The arrest follows extensive pressure from communities and safety structures demanding urgent intervention. In a strongly worded statement, a coalition of civic groups said Van Aardt’s murder was “the brutal, senseless” tragedy they had long feared. They argued that smash-and-grab violence has become “a daily reign of terror” for motorists and renewed calls for funded patrols, immediate safety audits of roadworks, accelerated hotspot signage and an expanded surveillance strategy including upgraded CCTV and drones.

Mayco member for safety and security JP Smith condemned the killing. “The death of Karin van Aardt was indeed tragic and senseless and the City strongly condemns the actions of those responsible for this callous act.” He said the City would continue supporting SAPS and urged anyone with information to come forward.

Smith said existing safety measures remain in place, including CCTV monitoring, static patrols where resources allow, awareness drives at hotspots, and the sharing of hotspot data with navigation platforms such as Google, Waze and Apple Maps to warn motorists in real time. But he warned that law enforcement faces significant obstacles. He added that many incidents go unreported, and “there is no guarantee of prosecution as the investigative mandate lies with SAPS, and often, victims decline to proceed with the criminal case.”

To strengthen visibility, the City will reprioritise EPWP funding to deploy neighbourhood-watch patrols at hotspot intersections.

Ward councillor Angus McKenzie said motorists need to remain vigilant. “Smash-and-grab incidents are some of the most traumatic and frightening experiences a motorist can go through. They happen quickly, they are opportunistic, and it is simply impossible to police every corner 24 hours a day.” 

Concerns around opportunistic roadside attacks deepened this week after actor and musician Chris Chameleon detailed a tense ordeal on the N2, where both tyres on his rental car were destroyed after he struck an object “just passed the Baden Powell turnoff” in an area he described as “known for crime”. 

Community groups say that the underlying crisis on the city’s roads remains unchanged — and they insist that urgent, funded, coordinated action is now the only way to prevent another tragedy like the one that ended Van Aardt’s life.

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