Two suspects arrested for Wakeel’s murder

Two suspects have been arrested for the murder of 2022 Beacon Hill High matriculant Wakeel Dreyer.

Wakeel’s murder is one of 11 murder cases in the Mitchell’s Plain precinct between the period of New Year’s Day, Sunday January 1 and Saturday January 21.

Police confirmed they’ve recovered the body of 18-year-old Wakeel on Thursday January in Palestrina Street, Eastridge at 4.35pm. He was lying at a tuck shop with 11 gunshot wounds and died on the scene.

Mitchell’s Plain spokeswoman, Sergeant Zandi Langa, said according to information they have received Wakeel was not a gang member.

She said Mitchell’s Plain police arrested two male suspects, aged 32 and 35 years old.

Both suspects belong to the Nice Time Kids gang and they appeared at Mitchell’s Plain Magistrate Court on a charge of murder on Monday January 23, said Sergeant Langa.

“The residents and businesses in the area can assist the police by being the eyes and ears of the police, also to join the safety structures within the area. The intervention put in place by SAPS is high visibility and awareness programmes held in schools and in the area at large,” she said.

In a letter sent by Beacon Hill High School on Sunday January 22, the school assured parents, pupils and the community that more police visibility would be present in and around the school. The school will be operating as normal and parents and caregivers are encouraged to send their children to school.

Sub-council 12 chairperson, Solomon Philander, said he has reached out to the Western Cape Education Department and the provincial Police Oversight and Community Safety offices to assist with a turnaround plan.

“Although the focus is not only on Beacon Hill High School, I requested that Beacon Valley as a whole need police visibility. The SAPS visibility must be for a long period of time as this violence is ongoing since last year,” Mr Philander said.

“It is the right time to stand together in identifying the very activities that put our children's lives at risk and look into alternatives to give our youth a second chance in Beacon valley. It is important that we also protect our youth as a community and stand together during this time,” he said.

The Plainsman attended a memorial service for Wakeel on Monday January 23 at Imperial Primary School in Beacon Valley. The community came out in their numbers to support Wakeel’s family and friends.

Wakeel’s mother, Lucinda Roberts said she is still mourning the loss of her beloved son.

She said Wakeel wanted to study, and he loved playing soccer. “He was a lovely child, polite ... I can’t remember seeing him without a smile. He wasn’t nervous about his matric results and was so excited. He passed matric,” she said.

When she got the news of his shooting her sister called her to come home. “I’d cry and stop and cry again. I’m still dealing with it all.

“We had a very close relationship. He truly showed me how much he appreciated me. He was my only son. Wakeel showed me what love is,” she said.

Leonie Arendse, Wakeel’s aunt, said she raised him well. “He wanted to become an architect, we were excited about his future. I want justice for Wakeel.

“We raised him as good a man as we could. The night before his death he said he loved me. I did a good job with him, we raised him well,” she said.

Gavin Kellerman, an apostle from the Pentecostal Protestant Church, who officiated at the memorial service, said: “Ons kinders is geraak, hulle besef dit is gevaarlik. Ons moet so bang wees om ons kinders winkel toe te stuur. We asked for police visibility and here we are standing alone again. Our neighbourhood watch members have stood by us,” he said.

Senior pastor, from the Pentecostal Protestant Church, Albert Tromp, said it was “business as usual” after Wakeel died at the tuck shop. “We have these meetings every time but things don’t change because the people don’t change. We are the agents of change but we can’t do it alone, we need the role-players.”

Wakeel’s neighbour, Theo Cupido, said he lost his brother the same way, shot in front of his door. He knew Wakeel as Worsie. “I know he will be in our thoughts. We will remember him. He listened; anyone who knew him knew they could ask him anything and he’d do it without complaint,” he said.

Family and friends say he was a soccer player, he was dedicated to go forward in life, for himself and his family. “May we always support each other. May it not dry out. If we stand together as the community we can make the change – dit hang van ons af,” said Mr Cupido.

Wakeel’s funeral will be on Saturday January 28 at 7am with the viewing at 109 Peugeot Crescent, Beacon Valley, and the service will take place thereafter at the Pentecostal Protestant Church.