Cape Town Police Sergeant Shot Dead Outside Home In Vrygrond

The South African Police Service (SAPS) is on an urgent manhunt after a 48-year-old police sergeant was shot and killed in a brazen early-morning attack outside his home in Vrygrond, Muizenberg. The officer, stationed at Wynberg SAPS, was ambushed around 5am on Friday while preparing to leave for duty.

He was found lying next to his car, in full uniform, with fatal gunshot wounds, police confirmed. His family, who were inside the home at the time, were unharmed.

Police spokesperson Colonel Andrè Traut said the matter has been handed over to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (The Hawks).

“At approximately 5am, the body of the 48-year-old police sergeant was discovered outside his home in Thys Witbooi Street, Vrygrond. He had sustained fatal gunshot wounds. At the time of the incident, he was in uniform and was en route to report for duty at Wynberg SAPS,” said Traut.

Western Cape Commissioner Reacts to Police Sergeant murder

Lieutenant-General Thembisile Patekile, Provincial Commissioner of the Western Cape, has vowed to use every available resource to track down those responsible.

“An attack on any member of the South African Police Service will be met with the full force of the law. We will not rest until justice is served,” said Patekile.

Police are urging anyone with information to call Crime Stop anonymously at 08600 10111.

This marks the second police killing in the Western Cape this month. On 3 May, a female officer from Bishop Lavis was gunned down while off-duty in Langa. On 22 May, Kleinvlei Police Station also came under fire in an apparent gang-related shooting.

Vrygrond Gripped by Violence as More Killings Reported

On the same morning as the police sergeant’s murder, two other fatal shootings rocked the Muizenberg policing precinct.

In the Xakabantu informal settlement, a taxi driver was shot dead inside his vehicle. In a separate incident, a man in his 20s was gunned down in Overcome Heights, Sewende Laan. Muizenberg SAPS has opened murder cases and appealed to the public for leads.

Vrygrond Ward Councillor Mandy Marr expressed frustration over the lack of intervention, pointing to ongoing extortion and rising crime in the area.

“We have a massive problem in Vrygrond, and we need the police to bring resources to us. We are in desperate need. No one is talking about the extortion that is occurring in Vrygrond,” she said.

Marr also criticised what she called a selective urgency in government response.

“It’s devastating that a police officer, one of my residents, is killed, but every life matters. A scholar transport driver was killed, and he is not the first. Now that a police officer has been shot, the province says it will take any means necessary to get to the bottom of this. All people deserve justice,” she added.

---

For SA Crime News Follow SurgeZirc SA on Facebook,  X and Instagram