Cape Town police boost festive season patrols amid arrest in Karin van Aardt's murder
An arrest has been made in connection with the murder of Nelspruit granny Karin van Aardt who was killed in Cape Town.
Image: File
Cape Town police have urged victims of smash-and-grab crimes in notorious crime hotspots to report the crimes so perpetrators can be brought to book.
The police were commenting after the arrest of a 33-year-old suspect for a fatal smash-and-grab incident last week.
The suspect is expected to appear in the Bishop Lavis Magistrate’s Court on Thursday charged with armed robbery and the murder of a 64-year-old Nelspruit granny who was stabbed during a smash-and-grab incident while travelling to Vredenburg.
It has previously been reported that Karin van Aardt and her husband had arrived at Cape Town International Airport and were travelling to Vredenburg on Friday evening when suspects allegedly smashed the window of their vehicle and attempted to grab her handbag while the vehicle was stopped at a traffic light on Jakes Gerwel Drive.
The couple had been in Cape Town to celebrate their grandchild's birthday.
The Cape Town police said on Wednesday that a joint effort between the SAPS and City law enforcement officials led to the arrest of the suspect and more arrests have not been ruled out.
Grandmother Karin van Aardt was stabbed to death while on her way to see her family
Image: Facebook
Police spokesperson Novela Potelwa said officers worked around the clock in search of the perpetrators.
“Armed with intelligence, the law enforcement officials pounced on the suspect in Langa. He was questioned by detectives who later charged him with murder and aggravated robbery. As the investigation unfolds, the arrest of more suspects is expected,” she said.
She urged residents to provide information to police in efforts to prevent similar crime incidents from occurring and ensuring perpetrators of crime were brought to book.
“With the holiday season upon us, prompting increased activity on the roads and other public places, integrated deployments have been intensified at identified hotspots in accordance with the safer festive season operational plan,” she said.