Police in Ipelegeng, Schweizer-Reneke, in the North West, have made a breakthrough following the arrests of three people in connection with the outbreak of violence in the area and gang related clashes.
The arrest came after several police units were deployed to the area yesterday, and the discovery of the body of a 19-year-old male who was found with stab wounds along the Amalia- Schweizer-Reneke road.
Police said the violence disrupted schooling, public transport, business, health, emergency services and posed a serious threat to peace and stability in the area.
“A 30-year-old suspect linked with four cases, including two of assault with the intended to do grievous bodily harm, malicious damage to property and a murder. Two suspects aged, 26 and 28, are both linked with a house robbery. The trio will appear before the Schweizer-Reneke Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 23 May 2025,” said provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Adele Myburgh.
According to the police, the clashes are between two local rival groups known as TRT gang operating from the Ahmed Kathranda section and the Hawks Patrollers from Ipelegeng Extension 8.
“Reports of residents, neighbours, friends, and fellow residents including adults brandishing and attacking one another with an assortment of dangerous weapons points to a serious disintegration of the social fabric and moral decay within Ipelegeng. The public violence in pledging, is not a spontaneous occurrence but the result of a long-primed ticking time-bomb which happened under the watch of parents and community leaders,” said acting Provincial Commissioner of North West, Major General Patrick Asaneng
A large contingent of police units that include Public Order Police, Provincial Anti-Gang, Tactical Response Team, Mounted Unit and K9 have been deployed to the area to normalise the situation.
Meanwhile, the MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng, has called for calm in the area and the arrest of those behind the violence.
“It’s saddening to see young people focusing on activities that destroy their lives rather than to focus on their future. I implore young people to refrain from activities that will lead them to prison,” said Morweng.
