More than 200 people gathered outside the Mitchell’s Plain Magistrate’s Court on Monday July 15 to support the family of Chad Arendse as the suspect arrested in connection with his killing was due to appear in court.
Yesterday marked a month since Chad, a senior drum major and head coach of the Western Province Marching Association, was shot dead on his way home from a 21st birthday party.
Chad, from Beacon Valley, sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his head and face. Police found 14 cartridges on the scene and a 22-year-old man was arrested for the shooting that took place on Sunday June 16 in Beaufort Street, Rocklands (“Drum major shot dead”, Plainsman, June 19).
Chad’s parents, Bruce Arendse, 39, and Natasha Arendse, 39, along with family and friends, sat down in court waiting for the hearing to start when they were asked to leave the courtroom and premises.
A policeman at the court told them that the case had been postponed to Monday July 22, said Ms Arendse.
At the same time this was happening, at 11am, a 21-year-old man was stabbed in the back by a 25-year-old man at the Mitchell’s Plain Magistrate’s Court.
People at the scene fled into a courtroom nearby for safety.
The motive is believed to be gang-related. The suspect is expected to appear in court today, Wednesday July 17.
This incident was not related to Chad’s case.
“We didn’t get a chance to see the suspect. I wanted to see him. We already knew who it was,” said Ms Arendse.
“The suspect was at the party with Chad when he was shot. They weren’t friends but they knew each other,” said Ms Arendse.
“I am happy for the support and did not expect so many people to come out Monday. It still is very emotional for me,” she said.
Community members, family, friends and parents of the pupils at Littlewood Primary School, where Chad had been the drilling coach, showed their support on Monday.
If you have any information about the case contact investigating officer Detective Constable Jesse Phillips of Mitchell’s Plain Serious and Violent Crimes unit at 082 777 8076.
Mitchell’s Plain police arrested four men aged 26, 31, 44 and 45, in Rocklands for being in possession of a stolen car.
They were spotted in a stolen silver Toyota Corolla with registration CA 227 646 on Friday July 12 at 2.30am on the corner of Weltevreden Road and Cedars Avenue, Rocklands.
The suspects were due in court on Monday July 15 on a charge of possession of suspected stolen property.
On the same day, at 8am, an 18-year-old was arrested in Mont Blanc Street, Tafelsig, for possession of a firearm.
Police searched the teen and found a black imitation firearm with serial number A459139 on him.
Police spokesperson, Captain Ian Williams, said some imi-
tation guns had serial numbers on them.
The teen, who is not a gang member, was due to appear at the Mitchell’s Plain Magistrate’s Court on Monday July 15 on a charge of possession of an imitation firearm.
Following a tip-off about a firearm being delivered to a house in Clairwood Street, Beacon Valley, the police’s Anti-Gang Unit searched the premises on Monday July 8 at 4pm and found a black .38 Special firearm, with a filed off serial number with two live rounds
in possession of a 25-year-old man.
The suspect, who is a gang member, was arrested and faces a charge of possession of illegal firearm. He was due in court on Wednesday July 10.
On the same day, police spotted a white Golf with registration CA 80119 in Kilimanjaro Street, Tafelsig, at 11.45pm.
Operation Thunder members searched the driver, 29, and found a 9mm Glock with a filed off serial number with nine 9mm rounds in the magazine and one 9mm round in the chamber.
Police arrested the man on a charge of possession of an illegal firearm.
The suspect was due in court on Tuesday July 9.
Residents can report crime to Mitchell’s Plain police station at 021 370 1600, Lentegeur police station at 021 377 5042, Strandfontein police station at 021 370 1500 or call Crime Stop at 08600 10111.
Mitchell’s Plain police found the body of a woman in Olive Street, Eastridge on Sunday July 14 at 3.30pm.
Police have registered an inquest to determine the deceased woman, 41, cause of death.