MANENBERG is like a graveyard without flowers – people are fearing a new gang war and the streets are deserted – the community’s safety forum chairperson, Roegshanda Pascoe, said yesterday.
The City has also beefed up its security presence, sending in the Gang Stabilisation Unit.
This comes after the brazen killing of alleged Hard Livings gang member Angelo Davids last week.
Davids was killed by a mob of more than 110 alleged members of the Americans, Clever Kids and Dixie Boys, apparently in retaliation for the attack on another gang leader.
Mayco member for safety and security JP Smith said yesterday Manenberg residents were lying when they said metro police staff had jumped into their vehicle and fled when Davids begged for their help.
“Our investigating unit confirmed this was not a metro police vehicle, but other law enforcement were in the area. An investigation is still under way and disciplinary actions will be considered after it is completed.”
Smith said metro police officers were first on the scene and called an ambulance. According to him, these officers regularly placed their lives in danger, even when the SAPS retreated.
But Pascoe refuted Smith’s claims, saying Manenberg residents recognised metro police vehicles.
Pascoe said the streets were deserted and that everyone was indoors before nightfall. Gunshots are being heard regularly, but so far no one has been injured.
Manenberg Community Policing Forum’s chairperson, Kadar Jacobs, said police and other law enforcement would meet today. He added that the stabilisation unit was monitoring the situation and that crime-prevention activities would take place from today.
“Manenberg police and other law enforcement will discuss plans to tackle the current situation,” said Jacobs.