PAGAD Fugitive, captured after 8 years as police seize 23 illegal firearms in Western Cape

As the Western Cape hailed the confiscation of 23 firearms amid gang violence including 13 in Mitchells Plain, PAGAD fugitive Faizel Felix who evaded authorities for years has been apprehended.

Felix is no stranger to the courts, after he also made headlines in 2001, when he was accused of being behind a motorbike bomb explosion in front of the Wynberg Magistrates’ Court but could never be prosecuted or linked because there were no state witnesses left to testify against him.

The efforts behind his successful arrest follows the work done by the Hawks Crimes Against the State (CATs) team’s efforts.

Felix made an appearance at the Wynberg Magistrates’ Court on Monday, eight years after he evaded the long alarm of the law.

His case comes hours after, MEC for Police Oversight and Community Safety, Anroux Marais confirmed that 23 firearms were confiscated, 13 of which were found in Mitchell’s Plain.

According to Fight Against Crime SA’s (FACSA)  database, 52 shooting incidents were reported in the WC between 11 and 13 July, with 13 people shot, seven fatalities and nearly 32 affected areas, with hotspots such as  Elsies River, Tafelsig, Bishop Lavis and others.

The Hawks spokesperson, Warrant Officer, Zinzi Hani  said Felix had evaded court appearances since 2016.

“Faizel Felix (52), a member of People Against Gangsterism and Drugs (PAGAD) who previously absconded from court facing a charge of illegal possession of a firearm has briefly appeared in court today."

“His appearance comes after he was arrested in Wynberg earlier today by the Hawks Crimes Against the State (CATS) team, Western Cape on a warrant of arrest which was issued in 2016.

“Felix has been on the run for the past 8 years.

“It is reported that Felix was arrested on August 19 2015, for the illegal possession of a firearm by the Special Investigating Group for the City of Cape Town, thereafter the matter was referred to the Hawks for further probing. 

“His non-attendance led to the court issuing a warrant for his arrest and subsequently his arrest today.

“The case is ongoing, with the man’s next court appearance scheduled for July 17nat the Wynberg Regional Court. Felix remains in custody.”

Marais spokesperson, Kurt Nefdt confirmed more than 20 firearms were confiscated.

The success comes after sporadic shootings in the Cape including Mitchells Plain where five people were killed and seven wounded in a matter of hours on July 3 and another mass shooting in Bishop Lavis at the weekend.

“I can confirm that there have been another five firearms confiscated since our last media release. Two firearms were confiscated in Bishop Lavis following the recent mass murder( not confirmed if it is linked to the incident), one in Kuils River and another two in the Somerset West area. I must mention that these figures change often as intensified operations to clamp down on illegal guns and ammunition are ongoing,” said Nefdt.

According to Gun Free SA’s  Researcher and Analyst, Claire Taylor, more than 8000 guns have been stolen since 2023: “In 2023/24 alone, civilians reported losing or having 8,452 guns stolen - that's 23 guns every single day."

Lynn Philipps of the Cape Flats Safety Forum said they applauded the successes but called for an inquiry after more than 30 firearms vanished from the Mitchell's Plain Police Station since 2017.

“How many people were innocently caught in the crossfires or shot with these stolen firearms retrieved thus far?” she said.

A Consultative meeting of faith leaders and civic organizations such as the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) President Sheikh Fataar, Reverend Rodney Whiteman of the Western Province Council of Churches and Dr Llewellyn MacMaster, chairperson of the Cape Crime  Crisis Coalition, addressing gang violence on Wednesday.

Pagad did not respond by the time of deadline on Monday.

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