Cape Town - Pagad say the police are keeping them from marching in gang-infested areas because “they feel [it’s] too hot for us to handle”.
Even MEC Dan Plato says police warned him to stay away from certain areas of Mitchells Plain, where on Wednesday he launched the 16 Days of Activism of No Violence Against Women and Children Campaign.
Freedom Park in Tafelsig is home to scores of drug dens and dangerous gangs like the Rude Boys and Hustlers.
People Against Gangsterism and Drugs (Pagad) Tafelsig coordinator, Mogamat Keraan, says police often stopped them from carrying out marches in areas like Tafelsig where the drug trade was “hot.”
Keraan tells the Daily Voice: “In this area there are ten drug dealers who are operating. But when we make a request and notification for our march, (police) tell us we should do it elsewhere, saying they feel these areas are too hot for us to handle.
“All the police do is fight with us, but we are a component which can help the SAPS.
“They are sending us to areas where there is no drug activity, why we do not know.
“We know the police have their hands tied.”
Plato, MEC for Community Safety, also admitted that police warned him to stay away from the area.
But on Wednesday, Plato and Pagad had a clear message for Tafelsig lowlifes and gangsters: You are not in control.
Marching with residents through the area, Plato said: “We were warned to stay away and not to come here.
“I am glad we roamed from street to street, I wanted (the gangsters) to see we are here with SAPS.
“We want to show them they do not control our communities, our women and children.
“We are here because in this community in particular we have a syndrome where children want to run the homes and abuse the parents.”
At the campaign launch, artists like Idols winner Karin Kortje and rapper Deen Louw entertained the crowd.
Karin sang her hit ‘I’m ready’, before sharing details about her childhood.
Karin said: “I was also a delinquent but I had to make a decision [to choose a better life]. I want to tell you, don’t stay silent, there is always someone who will listen.”
Daily Voice
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