Police take swift action following violent assault on MPs in Philippi
Image: Ayanda Ndamane/ Independent Media
The escalating threat of violence in South Africa took centre stage this week when three Members of Parliament were attacked in a brazen incident in Philippi on Tuesday afternoon.
Notably among the victims was Ian Cameron, the Chairperson of the Police Portfolio Committee. In response to this alarming act, the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), General Fannie Masemola, has issued an urgent directive to intensify efforts in tracking down the perpetrators responsible for this egregious assault.
General Masemola has urged the Western Cape Provincial Commissioner to deploy the Provincial Serious Violent Crime (SVC) investigators to work relentlessly to apprehend those involved.
Portfolio Committee on Police Chairperson Ian Cameron, together with colleagues Lisa Schickerling and Nicholas Gotsell, were travelling near the intersection of New Eisleben and Govan Mbeki Roads when unknown suspects broke the windows of their vehicle and began throwing bricks at them.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane / Independent Media
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Next
Stay
Close ✕
In a statement condemning the attack, he remarked, 'This criminal act, which targeted Members of Parliament, is a direct attack on the safety of citizens and will not be tolerated.'
The General stressed that the SAPS is mobilising all available resources to hunt down and bring the criminals to justice. He issued a stern warning to those involved in serious and violent crimes: the SAPS is determined to use the full extent of the law against them.
In a show of proactive policing, SAPS members were able to swiftly arrest one suspect on Tuesday evening shortly after the incident.
This suspect, who had sustained injuries during the attack, was apprehended while seeking medical attention at a facility in Lentegeur. Currently, he remains under police guard in hospital as investigations continue.
Highlighting the ongoing issues of gang-related crimes in the Western Cape, General Masemola reiterated that enhancing safety in communities and bolstering business confidence is paramount.
'We urge community members to stand together with the police by providing reliable information that can lead to the swift arrest of suspects still at large,' he stated. It is clear that SAPS is elevating operational and intelligence-led strategies to tackle gang-related activities in the region.
IOL
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
43 minutes ago
- IOL News
DA top brass to blame for party divisions in Beaufort West council, says axed councillor
Japie van der Linde who had been with the DA since 2004 and even represented the party in Parliament, had his membership terminated after the party found him guilty of misconduct for a separate matter. Image: FILE THE DA leadership's alleged unilateral decision to nominate a mayor without consulting its Beaufort West caucus led to a breakdown in the council, ultimately resulting in the ANC candidate being elected mayor. ANC councillor Castro De Bruin was elected mayor despite the DA holding the majority. Of his seven votes, two were from DA councillors while DA mayoral candidate Georgina Duimpies secured five. One councillor from a different party, was excused from the vote. Asked about the council meeting and the DA members who went against the party line, Western Cape leader Tertuis Simmers said they had terminated the membership of a second councillor saying: 'It is regrettable when personal ambitions hinder the recovery of an entire municipality'. Ultimately only one councilor, a proportional representation councillor's membership was terminated the day after the council meeting. Japie van der Linde who had been with the DA since 2004 and even represented the party in Parliament, had his membership terminated after the party found him guilty of misconduct for a separate matter. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Van der Linde, who was the speaker in council, said he had worked hard to build the party up from only 12% share of the vote a few years ago. 'I literally put in everything to build up the DA in Beaufort West. The DA had a 12%-13% share when I joined them in 2004. In 2021 I was in hospital for 8 weeks for the elections so we lost all the wards except one. Last year, provincial and national, we won 4 of the 7 wards and after that all three by-elections.' Last year tensions came to the fore when he expressed dissatisfaction with how certain issues were handled, he said. 'I'm direct, and they don't like that,' he said. Charges were ultimately brought against him, however van der Linde said they did not stick because he did nothing wrong. 'The disciplinary hearing I was in was two months ago. Those panel members told me there and then that they found no evidence that I transgressed anything.' Then came the appointment of Duimpies as mayoral candidate around two weeks ago, 'without a process', said Van der Linde . 'We said give the caucus the opportunity to decide or open it up so that those who want to apply can apply for the position as mayoral candidate. She was appointed out of nowhere. So despite the legal commission finding me innocent, the federal executive decided they would find me guilty. Despite their (independent panel) report, it doesn't get accepted. The decision that gets taken, the (federal executive) can outvote it. If they can just outvote it, why did you have an independent legal commission? They could not find me guilty with one charge. Simmers maintained Van der Linde was to blame for his membership being terminated. 'All members of our party, irrespective of position, are bound by the DA Code of Conduct. For a former member to suggest that the DA wanted to get rid of him is a failure by the former member to accept personal accountability for their actions. The DA's internal disciplinary processes follow due process and its outcomes are communicated to the relevant member, in this matter that is what was done. No other matters, as is being alleged, influence the outcome of a disciplinary matter,' he said. He confirmed a new PR councillor had been appointed. 'The former PR councillor's membership was terminated by cessation based on the outcome of a DA investigation.' In response to the poor service delivery allegations, he blamed the previous administration. The party will on Wednesday elect a new speaker at a special council meeting.
IOL News
2 hours ago
- IOL News
Parliamentary committees to question Lamola and Motshekga over SANDF chief's controversial Iran visit
Major-General Rudzani Maphwanya during recent visit to the DRC. Image: SANDF The parliamentary Committees on Defence and International Relations and Cooperation plans to engage with Minister Angie Motshekga and Ronald Lamola over comments made by SANDF Chief, General Rudzani Maphwanya during his recent visit to Iran. This will be after President Cyril Ramaphosa has scheduled a meeting with Maphwanya. Maphwanya caused a storm last week when it emerged that during a visit to Tehran he pledged 'common goals' with Iran and claimed his trip carried 'a political message'. His trip, sanctioned by Motshekga, took place amid tensions between South and the US with President Donald Trump imposing a 30% tariff on South African goods. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans, Dakota Legoete, and the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on International Relations, Supra Mahumapelo, noted with concern Maphwanya's remarks during his visit to Iran. Legoete and Mahumapelo also noted with alarm that the Department of International Relations and Cooperation has publicly distanced itself from the General's comments while the Presidency described the visit as 'ill-advised'. They said the committees will have a joint meeting to engage with Lamola and Motshekga on the issue. Legoete said it was evident that there was a worrying lack of coordination between defence diplomacy and South Africa's official foreign policy. 'This disjuncture exposes potential misalignment and cohesion in the country's approach to international relations,' he said. Legoete added that the Department of Defence should draw long-term lessons from these events and ensure thorough alignment, going forward. He further stressed that the committee awaits the outcome of engagements between Ramaphosa in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the SANDF, Motshekga and SANDF leadership. 'These engagements must demonstrate unity, strength and synergy in how South Africa conducts itself on the international stage.' Legoete reiterated the committee's stance that 'the SANDF must remain a professional and apolitical institution, focusing squarely on its constitutional mandate to safeguard the Republic, while steering away from statements in the political domain'. Last Thursday, the Presidency said Ramaphosa was unaware about the 'ill-advised' visit by Maphwanywa to Iran. Ramaphosa's spokesperson Vincent Magwenya stated that Ramaphosa did not sanction Maphwanya's visit as Motshekga approved the travel. 'As much as the president is the appointing authority and the commander in chief, he does not get involved in supervising the general's travel. That process sits with the minister. So the President did not know.' Both the Department of International Relations and Cooperation and Defence have distanced themselves from Maphwanya's remarks, citing that Ramaphosa and Dirco were custodians of foreign policy.
The South African
2 hours ago
- The South African
BREAKING: Two teenagers arrested over attack on DA MPs in Cape Town
Police have arrested two teenagers following a brazen attack on three Members of Parliament (MPs) in Philippi, Western Cape, on Tuesday afternoon, 19 August. The incident has sparked outrage, with National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola calling for the Provincial Serious Violent Crime (SVC) unit to expedite the investigation. Among those attacked was Chairperson of Parliament's Police Portfolio Committee, Ian Cameron. The first suspect, an 18-year-old, was arrested on Tuesday evening while seeking medical treatment for injuries sustained during the attack. It is believed he was shot during the attack on the three MPs when one of the vehicle occupants allegedly fired a shot in response to the attack. According to police, he remains under police guard at a local hospital. The second suspect – a 16-year-old – was arrested on Wednesday, 20 August, following an intense investigation. Authorities are still searching for another suspect. The pair face charges of attempted murder and attempted hijacking. General Masemola praised the swift action of SAPS members in apprehending the suspects. Cameron sustained multiple injuries, including broken teeth, and required facial stitches. His colleagues suffered minor head and neck injuries. Despite the attack, he said he will not be deterred from his work. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 11. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news
