Deploy army, say frustrated residents

Cape Town. 080415. Good Hope Construction (GHC) in Mamnenberg is without a doubt an experienced company coupled with years of experience and construction management skills. Picture Leon Lestrade. Story Caryn Dolley.

Cape Town. 080415. Good Hope Construction (GHC) in Mamnenberg is without a doubt an experienced company coupled with years of experience and construction management skills. Picture Leon Lestrade. Story Caryn Dolley.

Published Apr 25, 2015

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Residents in areas gripped by gang violence are frustrated that the army was this week dispatched to areas rocked by xenophobic attacks, when they have been calling for help from soldiers for years.

A number said they felt as if their lives were viewed as insignificant.

Over the years there have been repeated calls from residents, and officially from Premier Helen Zille, for the army to intervene in areas where gang violence is prevalent, but the SANDF has not been sent in.

And this week the Police Ministry said it did not believe the deployment of the army was warranted in areas battling gang violence.

On Tuesday, Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula announced that the army would be deployed to particular areas where xenophobic attacks were taking place. This type of violence has flared up in Joburg and KwaZulu-Natal, resulting in the deaths of at least seven people.

Troops were then dispatched to areas, including Alexandra in Joburg.

This move has angered residents in gang hot spots in the Western Cape.

Yesterday Roegchanda Pascoe, a resident of Manenberg, where an ongoing gang war has resulted in a number of murders, said: “We feel for the people from other continents staying in South Africa.

“But us, the citizens, are treated less than what animals are treated. The government’s message to us is basically that our lives are not valued.”

Residents also took to the Facebook page, Manenberg Gangwatch, to express their anger. One post said it appeared the army had been deployed because of the international outcry in response to the xenophobic attacks.

It ended: “FYI, Mr President, Mr Minister of South African Police Service… Our lives also matter. As a citizen I’m pleading with you to please hear our cry for help… deploy the SANDF and help us… help us all!” (sic)

Scores of residents replied to the post. One said: “The government must balance the scale, what goes for one goes for all… life is sacred and precious.” Another said attacks happened in Manenberg daily, whereas xenophobic violence was not as frequent.

“Calls for the deployment of the defence force to protect the lives of its own people comes to nothing. What will it take to jolt them into action?”

Weekend Argus asked Police Minister Nathi Nhleko’s spokesman, Musa Zondi, whether Nhleko was considering sending the army into gang hot spots in the Western Cape.

Zondi initially replied by asking whether the question should instead be posed to the defence minister.

But SANDF spokesman Brigadier General Xolani Mabanga said the army was sent into particular areas at the request of Nhleko. In order for the army to be sent into gang hot spots, Nhleko would have to request this.

Mabanga said if Nhleko were to request it, he could see no reason why it would be opposed.

Zondi then told Weekend Argus that Nhleko had not received an assessment that called for the deployment of soldiers to gang hot spots..

According to the provincial police’s annual report, dealing with the period April 1, 2013, to March 31 last year, gang murders accounted for nearly one-fifth of all murders in the Western Cape - 530 of the 2 909 in that period.

National police spokesman Solomon Makgale said police were managing gang violence. “Our assessment does not show that we require the army, but... should we be of the view that the SANDF is required to support our operations in the area, then we will have no issue asking for support.”

Saturday Argus

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