Lisa Isaacs
THERE has been an outpouring of support for a Manenberg family after a woman was shot dead, apparently because she was the mother of a police detective.
Shamiela Eksteen, 71, was at home when gunmen burst through her front door about 7pm on Monday and shot her, killing her, and wounding her elder son, Mansoor, 44, in the chest.
Her younger son, Lutfie Eksteen, a detective with Operation Combat, which focuses on gangs and drugs, also shared her home.
General Jeremy Vearey, head of Operation Combat and spokesman for the Eksteen family, said at the 35th Annual Crime Stoppers International Conference yesterday that Mansoor was in a stable condition in hospital.
As of Tuesday, 80 people had been taken into custody in connection with the attack.
They could be held for only 48 hours.
If a crime was gang-related, the community would identify those involved and convey the information to the unit, Vearey said.
Eksteen was buried late on Tuesday, within 24 hours of her death, in accordance with Muslim custom.
The provincial ANC said the carnage caused by drug lords and gangsters should be stopped.
“Innocent children, the elderly and even police officers are senselessly killed by some hardened criminals roaming our streets.”
Communities should reclaim their streets and identify the perpetrators.
“With the murder statistics for the Western Cape alarmingly up… communities must take the lead to unite against such crime and madness. The Western Cape has the highest figure of police officers killed in recent times,” the ANC said.
The MEC for Community Safety, Dan Plato, condemned the attack on the Eksteens.
“We cannot allow such a brazen and heinous attack to deter the SAPS to act against unscrupulous criminals, murderers, gang bosses or drug lords,” he said.
“I urge the community of Manenberg to work with the police in bringing the offenders to task and offer the support of the Department of Community Safety in ensuring that those responsible face their full day in court.”
The Western Cape Community Police Board said: “Our men and women in blue are also human beings and an attempt on the lives of these officers is an act of treason and must be dealt with the severest of punishment.
“To those responsible for these evil acts, your days are numbered.
“Our communities will get rid of you (by) participating in our structures and being the change.”
The board encouraged all officers to continue serving and protecting the public, despite the attack.
“May this gentle soul rest in peace.
“We pray for a speedy recovery of the injured brother.”