About 50 teenage gangsters armed with knives and pangas on Sunday night entered Green Point in Khayelitsha and attacked anyone in sight, a resident said.
Residents fired at the mob to drive them away after the teenagers had forced their way into some homes in search of rival gangsters.
“A group of young people went in the area and plundered some of the houses. Police are monitoring the area. No cases have been opened yet,” police spokesperson November Filander said late on Sunday night.
No arrests had been made and there had not yet been reports of injuries.
The resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that when the gang entered Green Point at about 9.30pm they had shouted threats that there would be no schooling in Green Point on Monday.
“They said schools here will be closed. They carried pangas, knives and all sort of weapons and they attacked people at random. Residents came out and chased them and fired shots at them. From what I understand, some gangsters were wounded but still managed to get away,” the resident said.
He said the gang was from Site B and was often involved in street battles with rivals from Green Point.
The resident said about 60 men from Green Point had gathered in a hall after the attack to discuss what to do about the gang problem.
Since last year, rival gangs Vuras from Site B and Vatos from Town Two and Green Point have attacked each other with pangas, axes, knives and, more recently, guns. In the past 10 days four members from both gangs had been killed.
In recent weeks, gang disputes had spilled into the neighbourhood and innocent people were threatened.
Earlier on Sunday, the Cape Times spoke to three Vatos members who wanted to quit the gang. They did not want to be identified for fear of victimisation.
“We have seen that this life is useless. We are not gaining anything from it,” said an 18-year-old.
In June, the 18-year-old and his friends were attacked by the Vuras while walking from school. “I had a very hard time writing the last four (exam) papers. I had been hit in my hand with a panga.”
Another 18-year-old said the Vuras had vowed to kill one of them after the death of a Vuras gang member on Friday. “They told us that none of us would go to school (today),” said a Vatos member.
On Saturday three Vatos members were sent to the Eastern Cape by their brother. He would not be identified, but said a group of about 50 boys had surrounded their home on Friday to avenge the death of their friend.
Khayelitsha resident Axolile Notywala, who is a member of the Social Justice Coalition, said gangs have now started intimidating and attacking bystanders.
Cape Times