Key Points
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A 16-year-old was arrested for planning an attack on Cape Town International Airport and Mavericks Night Club.
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The teen had previously vandalized a statue and recruited an accomplice to assist in the attacks.
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The case was postponed for legal representation, and the investigation remains ongoing.
A 16-year-old boy has been arrested for allegedly planning an attack on Cape Town International Airport and Mavericks Night Club.
The Hawks’ Crimes Against the State (CATS) unit led the operation, with assistance from various law enforcement agencies, after the teen was recruited by a terrorist group via social media.
Teen plots attack on public locations
The Hawks arrested the suspect on March 27, 2025, following a raid at his home in Melkbosstrand.
Authorities had received information about his planned attacks. During the operation, officers seized several electronic devices, including a PlayStation, gaming consoles, and a mobile phone. Fortunately, investigators did not find any explosives at the scene.
According to Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Siyabulela Vukubi, the teenager had been recruited by a terrorist group online.
Although no explosives were found, authorities continue their investigation into his activities.
Previous vandalism and recruitment of an accomplice
Authorities also discovered that the teen had recruited another individual to assist in executing the attacks. Furthermore, in November 2023, he vandalized the Statue of Mary at the Melkbosstrand Catholic Church.
He reportedly beheaded the statue and spray-painted it with unfamiliar slogans. Vukubi noted that these actions were part of his radicalization process.
The investigation led to further legal actions. The case was referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions, and on March 6, 2025, the National Director of Public Prosecutions issued a Protection of Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorist and Related Activities Act (POCDATARA) certificate.
Court appearance and ongoing investigation
The teen made a brief appearance at the Atlantis Magistrate’s Children’s Court on March 27.
The court released him into his parents’ care and postponed the case for legal representation. Authorities are continuing their investigation as they uncover more details about his connections and plans.
