SPEAKER NOTES GENERAL FANNIE MASEMOLA ON SAULSVILLE KILLING

The bakkie that was used in the murder of Marius Van der Merwe photo supplied

SPEAKER NOTES GENERAL FANNIE MASEMOLA, SAULSVILLE

By General Fanie Masemola
National Commissioner of SAPS

A very good afternoon members of the media.

We gather this afternoon, at the crime scene where twelve people lost their lives and thirteen others are still in hospital receiving medical treatment.

Three suspects are still at large, but our detectives and uniformed police are working around the clock to find these killers. 

In the Atteridgeville police station precinct, from the start of this financial year starting the first April 2025, we have shutdown 101 illegal and unlicensed shebeens and taverns. 

11 of those were closed down in the last four weeks and our members are intensifying their operations to shutdown more of these illegal establishments. 

With the latest incident, we do agree that we must indeed intensify these operations to ensure that we leave nothing to chance. 

We are still investigating the motive of this incident, we do have an idea of what may have led to this incident, however intelligence is still gathering and analysing information that has been received. 

In no time, we are confident, that we will find these three suspects. 

We have registered 12 counts of murder and 13 counts of attempted murder cases.

We have also charged the owner of the room who is one of the injured and is in hospital for operating a tavern without a valid liquor license. 

SAFER FESTIVE SEASON OPERATIONS ACROSS SA

Out of a total of 51 844 liquor establishments inspected, a total of 3 665 illegal taverns and shebeens have been shut down and 6 641 suspects have been arrested for selling liquor illegally since the start of our safer festive operations on the 13th of October 2025. 

During this period, we have also seized and disposed 297 804 litres of alchohol that were sold illegally. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, our safer festive season operations that are running concurrently with OPERATION SHANELA are indeed yielding the desired results throughout the country with a total of 113 727 suspects arrested. 

33 505 of these suspects were wanted suspects of serious and violent crime including murder, attempted murder, rape, illicit mining, possession and dealing in drugs. 

A total of 18 600 suspects were also arrested after they found to be in possession of drugs. 

Indeed, alcohol and drugs remain one of the main drivers of violent crime including murders, assault GBH, as well as domestic violence related cases.

This is exactly why we are constantly intensifying our operations to deal decisively with those who are found to be not in compliance with the liquor act and those that are found to be in possession of drugs. 

Both illegal taverns and licensed establishments are posing a major challenge for the police especially in the Gauteng area. 

In Gauteng alone, from 01 April to date, we have inspected a total of 41 366 liquor premises and out of that, a total of 2906 unlicensed liquor premises were shutdown and their owners charged for selling liquor illegally. 

A total of 972 illegal firearms were also seized in Gauteng alone since April. 863 of these illegal firearms are pistols and 60 of them are rifles. 

With the latest crime statistics, Gauteng is registering the highest in the number of incidents of hijackings, kidnappings, murders and rape.

We know that the province are intensifying their weekly operations and conducting integrated multidisciplinary operations and working closely with other law enforcement agencies. 

Mass shootings are also a problem at these illegal establishments in Gauteng, from July 2025, this is the third incident of such a nature.

In July in Olivenhoutbosch, where six people were killed, the shebeen owner was arrested for operating illegally in liquor and one suspect has since been identified, this suspect is currently arrested and detained in Lesotho on a separate murder case. The SAPS is currently engaging INTERPOL in both countries.

In Bronkhorstpruit where five people were killed at Zithobeni tavern, two people have since been arrested and are still in custody. 

We will continue to intensify our operations and request the cooperation
communities in making this festive season safe.

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s all hands on deck as our men and women in blue and other law enforcement Agencies , protect citizens and their properties through the SAPS Festive Season Operational Plan.

It is on this score that the SAPS will continue to heighten operations and maintain high visibility on our roads and at ports of entry to arrest crime and any form of criminality. 

With the addition of more than 3500 newly trained Constable’s within our ranks, we are hopeful that we will continue to deter incidents of criminality across the country…

CRIME INTELLIGENCE TAKE DOWNS

It is quite encouraging that just this morning a crime intelligence driven operation intercepted six suspects that were on their way to commit a CIT armed robbery in the west rand in Gauteng.

All six suspects have been arrested and will be charged accordingly.

Two firearms including a riffle and a pistol and vehicles of the suspects have been seized. 

In Temba, Makapanstad, which is about more than sixty kilometres from where we are, we have this morning shutdown a drug lab with drugs and drug manufacturing equipment worth more than R100 million… this was an intelligence driven operation, and we are confident that we will continue to intercept these organised crime syndicates and dismantle their illegal operations.

A total of six suspects have been arrested.

We are making a call on all those in the country to remain extra vigilant of their surroundings and minimise the risk of falling victim to crime, especially on online scams and cyber related crime. 

We also call on citizens to report any suspicious activities to law enforcement and continue to work closely with the police against the common enemy of crime.

Marius Van Der Merwe

Lastly, on the Marius Van Der Merwe case, three persons of interest have been identified and one has been for questioning, as police investigations continue.

We are confident that soon we will register a breakthrough as police remain on high alert for those behind the killing of Mr Van Der Merwe.

Safe to say, investigations are on the right track. The NATJOINTS together with Madlanga Commission has met and developed a plan to heighten and enhance security around officials and witnesses linked to the commission.

Remember if you See Something, Say Something!

Let’s all work together to make this festive season safe and secure for everyone in the country… As much as police are out there to protect you, we also request our communities to assist us to takedown these hardened criminals…

I thank you by