THERE is no need for public panic despite the number of high profile crimes in Richards Bay over the past few weeks.
That’s the message from Station Commissioner, Brigadier Bongamusa Zondi, who said that at most, two of the cases may be linked to the same perpetrators.
Following the discovery of a decomposed body in the boot of a car in Birdswood on 18 August, the double murder and torching of the home of Meerensee couple Ernst and Lilo Boller took place on 5 September.
This was followed by the killing of Empangeni resident Kerridge Singleton on or around 8 September.
Within the next week, Arboretum gunshot victim Janine Geere survived a driveway shooting and another Arboretum resident, Phillip van der Westhuizen(27), is fighting for his life after being shot twice early Tuesday morning while preparing to leave his home for work at the Thuthukani Adult Workshop.
A suspect was reportedly clearly identified from video footage and a speedy arrest is expected.
Staff at Thuthukani were ‘praying for Phillip and his family after this shocking incident’.
‘While not in any way minimising the serious nature of these crimes, I want to assure residents that this is not a crime wave by a particular gang,’ said Zondi.
‘These are isolated incidents and detectives are heavily engaged in searching for suspects.
‘Naturally we would appreciate any information members of the public might be able to share.
’I am pleased to report that suspects have been arrested in connection with the murder of Mr Singleton.’
Business Against Crime manager Dave Whittaker said he was confident police were on top of the murder cases.
‘Naturally they cannot divulge where they are in terms of their investigations but be assured, progress is being made.’
This is bullshit. How cant we panic if there is a trigger happy bastard/bastards out there. Who is next? We are living in jails en the murderers walk freely out there. Well Dave it is time for results. What about the 2 people in Meerensee today.
Yip and it seems like there is another crime scene this morning in VeldenVlei. House next to our complex had a guy in a blue plastic suit putting up police tape across the gate.
It is very difficult to stay calm when I know that it takes 2 hours on average for police to arrive when you phone them. If a person breaks into my house and I phone the police immediately, I could be dead by the time they arrive.
Just an update on my comment, the house next to me in VeldVlei intruders did enter the house and stabbed a husband and Wife, and sounds like they stabbed another person. Apparently they did not steal anything. Sounds like the motive was just to kill