The man, 28, who was stabbed to death in Kloof Street in the early hours of Saturday morning, has been described as a hero.
Captain Ezra October, spokesperson for Cape Town Central Police Station, confirmed that police had made an arrest and that the suspect had appeared in court yesterday, Monday October 16.
Captain October said the suspect would remain in custody in Pollsmoor prison until his bail application, which is due to be heard on Thursday November 16, at Cape Town Magistrate’s Court.
The victim had reportedly been trying to help a woman, who had been robbed of her cellphone and wallet, by chasing the suspect.
According to Captain October, the man was then involved in a scuffle before being fatally stabbed in the neck.
In response to the stabbing, and a reported increase in crime in the area, Mayco member for safety and security and social services, JP Smith, said he had engaged with senior law officials to increase law enforcement and Metro police in the lower CBD area (nearest Green Point and St George’s Mall).
He also said he had set up an urgent meeting with the Central City Improvement District (CCID) and the Metro police Strategic Surveillance Unit.
“The crime rate in the CBD remains very low and is much lower than many troubled parts of the city, so the city enforcement resources must remain targeted where crime creates the largest risk to life and property in the 10 worst policing precincts.
“However, in the short-term, we must look at resources that are available in the CBD and how we use them, which we will do over the next couple of days.
“The CBD and tourism and events it plays host to over the festive season remain an important generator of jobs and economic opportunity, and the City will strive to keep crime rates down so that we don’t see a return to the crime problems faced in the CBD before 2009,” he said.
