Police are investigating a murder plot by an Eerste River gang after three skollies and an alleged merchant were caught dumping three bodies at a Strandfontein beach.
According to a source, one of the victims was accused of stealing mandrax tablets from the mert.
The shocking discovery of the dead men in the back of a Ford bakkie was made by the Law Enforcement Marine Unit at about 7am on Tuesday.
Law Enforcement spokesperson Wayne Dyason says officers patrolling Lukannon Drive spotted a suspicious vehicle on the beach directly opposite Nautilus Way.
“They observed four males walking towards the ocean. They monitored the vehicle and then decided to approach the unknown males,” he says.
“On checking the vehicle, they found the bodies covered with blankets.”
FOUND: 3 bodies discovered in a Ford bakkie in Strandfontein
Mitchells Plain standby commander Colonel Dawood Laing says the Law Enforcement officers arrested the four men aged between 26 and 54.
“Three of the suspects are from Eerste River and have gang tjappies showing they are members of the 27 prison gang. The fourth suspect is from Mfuleni,” he says.
“The victims, who are still unidentified, had both stab and gunshot wounds and appear to be between the ages of 30 and 40 years old.
“ At this point the case has been transferred to Kleinvlei SAPS and will be handled by the Anti-Gang-Unit.
“Two of the bodies had 26 prison gang tattoos. The suspects have been charged with the triple murder and will appear in court later this week.”
According to a source, cops questioned the suspects, who piemped each other and gave officers an address in Forest Glade where the men are believed to have been murdered.
“They were versin! I mean how dom are they to go dump a body at that time of the morning?” says the source.
“Also with the lockdown, were they not bang of being caught in a roadblock with bodies in a bakkie? It was quite stupid.”
Another police source reveals that when AGU arrived at the house, they found two people cleaning the house with Jeyes Fluid and gloves were hanging on the washing line.
“This is all about stolen mandrax pille. The fourth suspect from Mfuleni is a mert for that area and Khayelitsha.
“He was called by two of the suspects from Eerste River who told him they were with one of the victims.”
Skollies’ bust for dumping bodies at beach
The source says the mert told the skollies that the first victim had stolen a pack of pille and he arrived at their home in Da Gama Street with the bakkie.
“The first victim’s friends came looking for him and all three were shot and stabbed, then the four of them rolled them in blankets and took them to Strandfontein.
“When the house was searched, the cops found two guns and the people cleaning were also taken in.”
Police spokesperson, Brigadier Novela Potelwa, says the officers then went to Eerste River.
“Information has also led the investigators to a house in Da Gama Street, Forest Glade, that is believed to be the initial crime scene,” she says.
“Police are still following further information linked to the discovery of the bodies. The motive for the murders will be determined as the triple murder investigation unfolds.”