POLICE have made a breakthrough and detained an Ethiopian national in connection to the murder of Adrian Arrison, 36, from Mitchells Plain who was shot and killed in Bonteheuwel on Monday.
Bishop Lavis police responded to a complaint of a shooting on Monday morning at about 6am in Citrus Street, Bonteheuwel and upon arrival on the scene they found the body of Adrian who sustained gunshot wounds.
Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi confirmed that the matter is still under investigation and that a 34-year-old Ethiopian national has been detained for murder.
Swartbooi said: “The investigating officer went the extra mile and pursued all the relevant information at his disposal to ensure a breakthrough.
"A 34-year-old man, an Ethiopian national, has since been detained for murder and will make a court appearance in the Bishop Lavis Magistrate's Court on Thursday 9 October 2025 on the mentioned charge. The possibility of more arrests is not excluded.”
The circumstances surrounding this incident are not clear yet, however according to a family member of the deceased, Adrian was not a gangster but leaves behind three children.
The family member explained: “The foreign national is his friend. And the guy that was with them is a Fancy Boy. They call him the Aii.
"Apparently something went wrong in the car and this Aii shot him and only one shot was fired, he was also robbed. It wasn't gang related because the foreign guy and Adrian are not gangsters.
"We are also waiting to hear what really happened in the car as the girl can't be found.”
Ward councillor Angus McKenzie echoed what the family member said and thanked the community for their swift response.
“I can confirm that the motive for this shooting was not gang-related, as the victim was not a known gangster. At this stage, it is believed that robbery was the motive behind the attack.
"I want to sincerely thank the members of our community who came forward with vital information. Your courage and willingness to speak up have made a real difference. It is very clear that our SAPS, Law Enforcement, and Metro Police officers are working extremely hard to build stronger relationships with residents. And when communities speak up, these officers are equipped to do their jobs effectively.
"We will continue to monitor this case closely and share updates as more information becomes available.”
Police are appealing to anyone with information to please call Crime Stop on 08600 10111.