Hawks

The Hawks have confirmed that a second suspect has been arrested in connection with the murder of community safety patrollers from the Marry Me informal settlement in Soshanguve, Pretoria. The arrests, made on Monday, 24 March 2025, come after a brutal attack on Saturday that left six patrollers dead and four others in hospital. The suspects, aged 27 and 50, are set to appear at the Pretoria North Magistrates Court on Wednesday, facing charges of murder, attempted murder, and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

A Violent Attack Shocks Soshanguve

The Marry Me informal settlement in Soshanguve, a township north of Pretoria, is in mourning after a horrific attack on a group of community patrollers. On Saturday, 22 March 2025, 12 patrollers were conducting their routine checks around 3:00 AM when they encountered five suspicious individuals. A confrontation broke out, escalating into a deadly assault. The attackers shot the patrollers, stoned them, and partially burned some of their bodies. By the time police arrived at 6:00 AM, four patrollers were dead at the scene. Eight others were rushed to hospital, but two later succumbed to their injuries, bringing the death toll to six.

These patrollers were not trained officers or hired security—they were ordinary residents who volunteered to keep their community safe in an area plagued by crime. “They were our protectors,” said Lerato Mofokeng, a Marry Me resident whose brother was among the injured. “They had no guns, just torches and a heart to help.”

Hawks’ Multidisciplinary Operation Leads to Arrests

The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, commonly known as the Hawks, moved swiftly to track down the perpetrators. On Monday, 24 March 2025, a multidisciplinary team—including the Hawks’ Tactical Operations Management Section (TOMS), Tshwane K9 Unit, Akasia Crime Prevention, Tshwane Akasia Crime Intelligence, Public Order Policing (POP) Pretoria, Tshwane district Serious Violent Crime (SVC), and Pretoria North Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC)—arrested two suspects, aged 27 and 50.

Hawks spokesperson Christopher Singo detailed the operation: “The first suspect [was traced] to Soshanguve Extension 20. Upon arrival, police recovered one firearm, 9mm Girsan with ammunition and serial numbers filed off. The police proceeded to the second address in Soshanguve Extension 6 where the second suspect was arrested. During the arrest, the suspect was found in possession of a 9mm CZ with ammunition and its serial number also filed off.” Both firearms are now undergoing forensic testing to confirm their use in the attack.

The suspects are expected to appear at the Pretoria North Magistrates Court on Wednesday, 26 March 2025, facing charges of murder, attempted murder, and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition. Police are still hunting for at least three more suspects believed to be involved, with Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi issuing a 72-hour ultimatum on Sunday for their arrest.

Survivors Under Police Protection

Of the eight patrollers initially hospitalised, four remain under medical care as of Tuesday, 25 March 2025. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, speaking at a community hall in Soshanguve alongside Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, assured families that the survivors are receiving the best possible attention. “We visited all of them at the hospital. Indeed, the situation was bad, but the medical team has assured us that they will attend to the situation,” Lesufi said. He added that two patrollers had been discharged, while two others had passed away, raising the death toll to six.

The location of the hospital has not been disclosed for security reasons, as the surviving patrollers are key witnesses in the ongoing investigation. A family member of one survivor confirmed that police are guarding the patients to ensure their safety. “The minister has expressed sincere condolences,” Lesufi noted, acknowledging the deep grief felt by the community.

Extortion Racket at the Heart of the Violence

The investigation has uncovered a disturbing motive behind the attack: an extortion racket operating in the Marry Me informal settlement. On Sunday, Lesufi revealed that residents are forced to pay various fees—R50 a month for safety, another R50 for water, and R350 for electricity—collected by different groups, including some patrollers. He disclosed that a kingpin, believed to be orchestrating the scheme from prison, may be linked to the murders. “I have detailed information, including about people in prison who are still overseeing activities outside,” Lesufi said.

Police have identified four groups in the settlement: one collecting money for safety, another for water, a third for electricity, and a fourth opposing the payments. The patrollers, caught in a turf war between these factions, became targets in a fight for control. “There are various syndicates involved, but it boils down to extortion,” Lesufi explained. This revelation has sparked alarm about the growing influence of extortion gangs in Gauteng’s informal settlements, where poverty and limited policing create a breeding ground for crime.

Soshanguve’s Ongoing Crime Crisis

Soshanguve, with a population of over 400,000, has long been a hotspot for crime. Informal settlements like Marry Me are particularly vulnerable, with residents often relying on community patrollers due to inadequate policing. “They come at the end of every month asking for donations, and we give them R50 because they are protecting us,” a resident shared. “The police are failing to do so, and crime is rampant here at night.”

The Soshanguve Police Station, understaffed and under-resourced, struggles to cover the vast area. Lesufi acknowledged this gap, stating, “If the police were doing their work in this community, we would not have the problem of patrollers that we have in this community.” The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) highlighted the broader issue, noting that the incident “underscores the escalating dangers faced by community policing forum members and law enforcement officers across the country.”

A Pattern of Violence Against Patrollers

The Soshanguve attack is part of a troubling trend of violence against community safety volunteers. In January 2025, a 53-year-old Community Policing Forum (CPF) member was killed at his home in Wentworth, Johannesburg. In November 2024, a CPF member was stabbed to death by a teenager in Mpatseni Trust, Masoyi, Mpumalanga. In October 2024, six CPF members were killed in Godini village, Qumbu, Eastern Cape, during a patrol. And in 2023, community patrol leader Thulani

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