Cape Town - Khayelitsha police believe they have a strong case against four men arrested in connection with the murder of 20-year-old Bongiwe Ninini, who was found inside a drain after being raped in Khwezi Park two weeks ago.
The men, aged 19, 20, 21 and 22, are all Site C residents who made a first appearance in the Khayelitsha Magistrate’s Court on Thursday. They were arrested on Tuesday and are known to Ninini’s family.
Ninini’s half-naked body was found in a drain early on July 18 after she had gone out with friends the night before.
A security guard alerted a police patrol, pointing out her body. Her family last saw her on Friday, July 17, when three friends and an ex-boyfriend fetched her.
During a press briefing at the Khayelitsha police station on Thursday, police could not confirm whether the people she was last seen with were among the four arrested, but said the investigation continued.
Newly appointed Khayelitsha police station commander, Brigadier Nomthetheli Mene, advised the township’s youth to inform their families about their whereabouts and also not to walk alone at night.
“Our members on patrol in Khwezi Park discovered Bongiwe Ninini’s body. An investigation was immediately launched and four arrests have been made. We believe we have a strong case,” Mene said.
She said while police would ensure that regular patrols were conducted in the area, they would also embark on crime prevention operations to curb crime.
“We are calling upon our communities to mobilise themselves into legitimate structures that are aimed at making a difference on the crime front. We further appeal to residents to practice vigilance at all times. Our gratitude goes to Khayelitsha community members who have supported our investigation by providing information,” she said.
Khayelitsha Cluster commander Johann Brandt said: “With the successful partnership we have in Khayelitsha, we have managed to make the arrests. The approach we follow is strongly based on partnership policing and this is an example. Secondly, this is the organised crime approach and obviously we need to jack up our cops to ensure we deliver the services we are supposed to deliver.”
Cape Times