A 16-year-old boy has been arrested for allegedly plotting an extremist attack on Cape Town International Airport and Mavericks Night Club.
The Hawks' Crimes Against the State (CATS) unit, along with several other law enforcement agencies, arrested the teen at his home after he was allegedly recruited by an extremist group through social media.
Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Siyabulela Vukubi said the teen appeared in the Atlantis Magistrate's Court on Thursday. "A Juvenile, 16-years-old ,was arrested on March 27 by the multi-disciplinary intelligence led operational team comprising of the Hawks' Crimes Against The State(CATS), Western Cape National Intervention Unit, Western Cape Bomb Disposal Unit and Western Cape K9 Unit for contravention of the Protection of Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorist and Related Activities Act( POCDATARA) and Malicious Damage to Property,” he said.
The arrest followed a search and seizure operation at a property in Melkbosstrand on December 6, 2023, after authorities received information about a minor allegedly planning an attack.
"Investigations revealed the suspect had been recruited by a terrorist organisation, no explosive devices or traces thereof were found during the search," Vukubi said.
Several electronic devices, including a PlayStation, four gaming consoles, computer equipment, and a cellular telephone were seized for analysis.
“This was after information was received that a minor child was allegedly planning to attack the Cape Town International Airport and Mavericks Night Club after being radicalized and recruited by the terrorist organisation,” he added.
“It was also established that the minor allegedly recruited another individual to assist him and during November 2023, he destroyed the Statue of Mary at the Melkbosstrand Catholic Church by beheading and spray painting it with unfamiliar slogans,” he said.
“The enquiry was forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions in Cape Town for decision and thereafter sent to the National Director of Public Prosecutions for the issuing of a POCDATARA certificate and it was issued on March 6 2025.
The teen made a brief appearance at the Atlantis Magistrate's (Children's Court) Court on Thursday and was released into the care of his parents. This case was postponed to Friday for legal representation.
Cape Argus