Six years on, second suspect arrested in Cape Town traffic officer’s murder

Cape Town traffic officer Walter Van Rooyen, 49, was shot and killed in his patrol car in March 2020 after arresting a taxi driver for a traffic violation.

A second suspect has been arrested in connection with the murder of Cape Town traffic officer Walter Van Rooyen, more than six years after he was shot dead in his patrol vehicle following the arrest of a taxi driver.

Van Rooyen, 49, was shot and killed on March 17, 2020, after arresting taxi driver Craig De Lilly for a traffic violation.

Police initially arrested De Lilly, but provisionally withdrew the charges against him. Police later rearrested him, and he is currently awaiting trial.

Police had, however, continued searching for a second suspect allegedly linked to the killing.

According to the City of Cape Town, the SAPS Provincial Organised Crime Unit approached it last month for assistance in tracing the outstanding suspect, who was believed to still be working in the taxi industry.

“A team from the Safety and Security Information Management Service (SSIMS) conducted surveillance on various taxi routes, and on Tuesday he was arrested,” the City said.

The suspect, identified as Dwayne Smith, appeared briefly in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, where he opted not to apply for bail.

“The matter will now be transferred to the Cape Town Regional Court on Monday, September 14, where it is understood that the duo will appear together as preparations for the murder trial get under way,” the City said.

Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security Alderman JP Smith welcomed the arrest, saying Van Rooyen’s family had already endured a wait of more than six years.

“We welcome this second arrest and hope that the trial will proceed swiftly. Officer Van Rooyen’s family deserve justice and closure. They’ve already waited more than six years, with the trial still to come,” Smith said.

He also praised the City and SAPS officials involved in the operation.

“I also want to applaud the City officers and their SAPS counterparts who worked countless hours to secure the arrest of the suspects. In fact, this is the third collaboration in just the past week where tracing operations, led in part by the City’s tech tools, have had results. It’s a reminder of what’s possible when we leverage relationships, information and resources,” Smith said.

The City said the arrest formed part of a series of recent tracing operations between its services and SAPS in which technology, including CCTV and drones, had helped identify and track suspects.