Pagad’s Faizel Felix Rearrested After 8 Years on the Run

Long-missing anti-gang figure taken into custody in Wynberg following 2015 bail breach.

A high-profile member of the People Against Gangsterism and Drugs (Pagad), 52-year-old Faizel Felix, is finally back behind bars after vanishing for nearly a decade.

The Department of Justice confirmed Felix was arrested in Wynberg on Monday, 14 July 2025, bringing to a close an eight-year manhunt led by the Hawks’ Crimes Against the State (CATS) unit. He now faces renewed legal proceedings over his original charge of illegal firearm possession.

A Bail Breach That Triggered a Years-Long Hunt

Felix’s troubles began in August 2015 when he was first arrested by the City of Cape Town’s Special Investigating Group. At the time, he was charged with the unlawful possession of a firearm, a serious offence given the rise in gun violence across the Cape Flats.

Shortly after his arrest, he appeared in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court and was granted bail. But within months, he vanished without a trace, failing to appear at his scheduled court dates. Authorities subsequently issued a warrant for his arrest, but despite multiple attempts, he remained elusive, until this week.

Who is Faizel Felix?

Felix has long been associated with Pagad, a controversial organisation that rose to prominence in the late 1990s for its vigilantism in communities plagued by gangsterism and drugs. While Pagad gained support for taking on gangs, it has also drawn scrutiny from law enforcement over some members’ alleged involvement in violence and extremism.

Felix’s own legal battles added fuel to that controversy. His disappearance was seen as a failure in bail oversight, and his reappearance is raising renewed questions about how fugitive suspects evade capture for so long.

Court Appearance and What Happens Next

Felix appeared in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on Monday, where he was officially processed on the outstanding warrant. He remains in custody and is expected to appear in the Wynberg Regional Court on 17 July 2025.

The Department of Justice has not ruled out additional charges related to his evasion of justice. Legal experts say that skipping bail, especially for this long, can carry serious consequences and will likely impact any future bail applications.

A Blow to Public Trust or a Win for Accountability?

While some see Felix’s rearrest as a victory for law enforcement, others question how a suspect in a high-profile case managed to slip away for so long. In communities still suffering from gang violence, the case may reignite debates around who holds power, how justice is served, and whether organisations like Pagad are helping or hurting the fight against crime.

His upcoming court appearance is expected to draw interest from both activists and local residents who have followed Pagad’s turbulent history closely.

For now, Faizel Felix is back in a courtroom and this time, the justice system is watching closely.

{Source: The Citizen}

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