Former suspect in Clare Swartz murder, killed in drive-by shooting

One of the former suspects in the murder of Clare Swartz from Mitchells Plain has been killed.

Diego Blaauw, 22, was arrested and charged in August but was released a month later due to insufficient evidence, effectively removing him from the case.

A total of six suspects had been arrested and charged, with four being released, one of which was Blaauw.

Blaauw was shot and killed during a drive-by shooting in Freedom Park, Tafelsig on Monday.

Police spokesperson, Constable Ndakhe Gwala, explained: "Mitchells Plain police registered a case of murder, following the fatal shooting of a 22-year-old male in Tafelberg Street, Tafelsig at 2.50 pm on January 5. According to reports, a motor vehicle drove by and shot in the direction of the deceased. He ran and collapsed in Westham Street, Tafelsig. The deceased sustained gunshot wounds to his chest and was declared dead by medical personnel on the scene. The motive for the shooting is unclear at this point, and no suspect has been arrested yet."

A community worker who cannot be named for safety reasons said the area was filled with violence following the shooting between rival gangs: "They first started shooting, then they began stoning one another (rival gangs)," she said. "One of the neighbours chased him (Diego) home, but he was shot soon after that."

Lynn Philipps of the Cape Flats Safety Forum said the case has been compromised due to the release of suspects and now a murder: "We hope that this case will be dealt with with the full might of the law and that all those involved are brought to book as soon as possible so that the family of the late Clare can have closure. We also need to indicate when this murder took place; she had a minor child who has become an orphan.

"I always ask myself what went through their minds when they committed such a heinous crime because they seem to be young and their families' entire future is destroyed due to crime and criminality."

In September last year, Swartz’s father, Francois, demanded justice after the suspects were released. Francois Swartz took to social media, and his video received over 5.2k likes and over 400 comments on Facebook. The case was provisionally withdrawn, and two others remain behind bars.

Clare, a mother of one, was stabbed multiple times, and her body was found dumped at the Wolfgat Nature Reserve. Her boyfriend, who managed to escape from their attackers on that fatal evening, was also left wounded. The State is set to prove that while Clare and her boyfriend were walking through bushes in the Wolfgat Nature Reserve in Tafelsig, a group attacked them with a knife. Previously, an online petition of more than 2000 signatures was handed over to the state prosecutor, calling for bail to be denied.

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