/ 21 January 2003

Police probe Cape Town brothel massacre

One of the two surviving victims of Monday’s massacre in a gay brothel in Cape Town was still in a critical condition in the intensive care unit of Groote Schuur Hospital.

The other was in a stable condition in a general ward, hospital representative Philippa Johnson said on Tuesday. Johnson said she could not release the names of the survivors.

Ten men were shot in the head at close range in the Graham Road, Sea Point brothel about 4am on Monday. The victims were all found with their hands tied behind their backs, most with their throats also slit.

The massacre has been met with outrage from politicians, sex workers and gay rights activists.

Safety and security MEC Leonard Ramatlakane, who visited the scene, appealed to the public to come forward with information on the gruesome attack.

Police representative Captain Etienne Terblanche said the investigation was at an early stage and he did not wish to speculate about possible motives.

This was in reply to a question posed by the media as to whether the killing had anything to do with Nigerian drug dealers or a protection and racketeering scheme.

Terblanche said an investigation task team along with members of the serious violent crimes, organised crime and crime intelligence units had been formed to handle the investigation. – Sapa