Stellenbosch Law Enforcement denies removing cartridge cases at shooting scene - IOL

A video circulating online shows local Law Enforcement officers allegedly collecting what appear to be spent cartridges at the scene of a shootout with suspected gang members. This raised questions about the integrity of the crime scene.

​The incident took place at the corner of Kudu and Primrose Street in Cloetesville at about 7.15am on Thursday 1 October 2026. In the footage, officers could be seen picking up what seemed to be shell casings after the exchange of gunfire.

IOL Media approached the South African Police Service (SAPS) to confirm whether the officers' actions were legal and followed procedure.

​Provincial police spokesperson Constable Ndakhe Gwala said Cloetesville police had opened a case of attempted murder and possession of an unlicensed firearm.

“According to reports, members of Law Enforcement responded to a shooting between two rival gangs. On arrival, one of the gangs fired shots at the officers, and the officers returned fire, resulting in the injury of two male suspects,” ​Gwala said.

​Gwala added that two suspects were subsequently arrested for attempted murder and possession of an unlicensed firearm.

​SAPS did not directly address the collection of the cartridges in its response.

​Jay Jay Idel, spokesperson for Fight Against Crime SA (FACSA), said the organisation found it unusual to see municipal Law Enforcement personnel collecting spent cartridges at what appeared to be an active shooting scene.

“We understand that Law Enforcement officers may recover firearms, ammunition or other items during stop-and-search operations or crime-prevention operations and hand those items over to SAPS. That is not what this appears to be.”

​He said preserving and forensically processing the scene became critical in such circumstances.

​Idel added: “SAPS has the mandate to investigate the criminal incident, while SAPS Crime Scene Management and Forensic Services are responsible for the specialist examination of evidence such as fired cartridge cases. SAPS itself states that cartridge cases can be examined and linked to specific firearms and other crime scenes.”

​He stressed that FACSA’s concern went beyond an officer merely picking something up.

“Our concern is whether moving potential ballistic evidence while the scene was still active could affect the reconstruction of the shooting or the chain of custody.

​“SAPS guidance stresses that crime scenes must be controlled and that evidential material must be properly managed and documented.”

“There may be an innocent explanation, including an instruction from SAPS or an immediate safety concern. That is precisely why the procedure needs to be explained rather than assumed.”

​Stuart Grobbelaar, spokesperson for Stellenbosch Municipality, insists that Municipal Law Enforcement removed nothing from the crime scene.

​After reviewing the video, Grobbelaar explained: “Officers simply marked the locations where shell casings were lying by placing rocks next to them or marking the spots with rocks.

“The spots were later marked with tape, after the video had ended.”