Gang infiltration fears grow as police find dockets and Magistrate's stamp in Grassy Park
Police dockets and a Magistrate's stamp was found during a search of a residence in Pelican Heights.
Image: file
A Magistrate’s stamp and nine police dockets, including two imitation firearms and 73 rounds of ammunition, were found at a residence in Pelican Heights in Grassy Park during a raid carried out at the premises.
The findings reinforces Western Cape High Court Judge Daniel Thulare's concerns raised during an October 2022 bail application, in which he said there were gang infiltrations in lower and senior police officers that were penetrated by the 28s gang.
The search took place at Nightjar Street, Pelican Heights, on May 26, following a tip-off received. Members linked to the police’s Operation Lockdown III visited the premises just after 9 pm and found the Magistrate’s stamp, police dockets, and the ammunition.
Police spokesperson Captain Frederick Van Wyk explained that a 37-year-old suspect was arrested and made an appearance at the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court last week.
“On Tuesday, May 26, the members of Operation Lockdown III followed up on information they received at around 9 pm pertaining to a suspect that was in possession of firearms at Nightjar Street, Pelican Heights in Grassy Park. Upon the members’ arrival at the premises, they searched the suspect’s house, leading to the discovery of two imitation firearms, nine SAPS dockets, 73 rounds of ammunition, and a Magistrate’s Court date stamp.
“A 37-year-old male suspect was arrested and detained at Muizenberg police station for possession of imitation firearms and ammunition.
“He is due to make his first court appearance at the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court once charged.
“The circumstances surrounding the dockets in his possession are under investigation.”
Thulare said during the bail application of 2022 that gangs had access to top management.
“The evidence suggests not only a capture of some lower-ranking officers in the SAPS. The evidence suggests that the senior management of the SAPS in the province has been penetrated to the extent that the 28 gang has access to the table where the Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in the Western Cape sits with his senior managers and leads them in the study of crime, develops crime prevention strategies, and decides on tactics and approaches to the safety and security of inhabitants of the Western Cape,” he said at the time.
Last year, police carried out a search at a premises in Oakway, Weltevreden Valley, where 19 firearms and ammunition were found, including an assortment of 1,500 rounds of ammunition, three gun safes, 26 magazines, a stun grenade, a silencer, and a shooting practice target board concealed in cooler boxes and safes.
It is alleged that the house is linked to the Fancy Boys gang, believed to be locked in rivalry gang warfare, which has caused sporadic shootings.
During the trial of now-convicted drug kingpin Fadwaan “Vet” Murphy in 2019, a bombshell was dropped when a police officer testified that he had found a duty roster of Lentegeur Police Station on the fridge of one of the accused in the case.