A 33-year-old man arrested by Cape Town Central police on Monday is suspected of being involved in a string of aggravated robberies in District Six.
The man will also face charges of attempted murder for allegedly shooting at a policeman.
Cape Town Central police spokesperson, Captain Ezra October said on the morning of Tuesday November 24, two suspects robbed a woman standing next to the District Six hospital, waiting for the clinic to open.
Patients queue daily as early as 5am at the clinic.
“Four males starting searching the people and one unknown male cocked the fire-arm pointed at her, grabbed her cellphone and ran behind the ACVV old aged home.”
On Wednesday November 25 in Hanover Street, a man was allegedly robbed at gunpoint by two unknown men.
On Saturday November 28, another man was robbed with a firearm.
Western Cape Health Department spokesperson, Natalie Watlington, said they were aware that a patient was robbed outside the clinic.
She said the clinic had two night security guards on duty and eight security staff starting at 6am.
In response to patients’ suggestions that the clinic open earlier, Ms Watlington said the nursing staff and doctors are only on duty from 7am, and in line with Covid-19 regulations, they were limiting the number of people inside the facility at a time.
She said to avoid dangerous situations, patients should arrive half an hour before their appointment time.
Captain October said later on Saturday night, police officers patrolling the area near Vernon Terrace Crescent in Zonnebloem noticed two men approaching the police vehicle. “ When they stopped the police van, one of the men took out a gun and pointed it at the officers.
“One of the officers got out of the van and gave chase and the gunman fired a shot at the officer, who retaliated by firing five shots. The gunman ran towards the CPUT main campus in the open parking area.“
Captain October said police opened an investigation and on Monday morning, they caught the alleged gunman at the dilapidated building at the Station Deck, and recovered a 9mm pistol with a loaded magazine containing six live 9mm rounds of ammunition. The man was arrested and will face charges of armed robbery and attempted murder.
The building at the Station Deck, which has been empty for over 10 years, is a haven and hideout for criminals, drug dealing and prostitution.
Mayoral committee member for safety and security, JP Smith, said the City’s Problem Building Unit has done regular follow-ups at this property, which has been declared a problem building.
He said the next step would be issuing the owners with contravention notices.
“The City is following its processes as keenly as possible to get to a point of resolution on this particular building. Given how long this process has been unfolding, and the continued lack of action by the owner, it doesn’t appear that there is any urgency from their side.
“Unfortunately, this is a problem in many of the instances that the unit deals with. The property owners who comply willingly and quickly when issues are pointed out to them, are few and far between.”
PRASA did not respond to enquiries from the CapeTowner.