CAPE TOWN - Following a bloodbath week in Manenberg which claimed the lives of at least eight people, police reinforcements have been sent into the area to quell suspected gang violence.
Community activist, Roegshanda Pascoe, has pleaded with the “enablers of gangsters” to stop aiding these gangsters.
“There is an outcry for safety at the moment, as shootings have escalated over the past two weeks. They are all gang-related, as there is currently no leadership among the gangs, and this ongoing violence is about leadership…
“I am pleading with the people who hide the ammunition and weapons to stop what they are doing because they enable these gangsters in their criminal deeds. And you are basically the ones pulling the trigger first, before the gangster fires the bullet that you hid,” said Pascoe.
Police spokesperson Wesley Twigg confirmed a number of deaths, including a double murder incident at Dorothy Court on Friday.
The most recent confirmed incidents occurred on Saturday afternoon, when two 19-year-old youths were killed within 30 minutes.
“Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a shooting incident on March 12 at about 2pm in Ruimte Road, Manenberg, where a 19-year-old male was shot and (killed),” said Twigg.
“Manenberg police were called to the crime scene where they found the victim with a gunshot wound to the head. He was declared dead on the scene by paramedics. The suspects fled the scene and are yet to be arrested.
“The circumstances surrounding a shooting on March 12 at about 2.30pm in Renoster Road, Manenberg, where a 19-year-old male was shot and fatally wounded are also being investigated. The victim was walking with his girlfriend when he was shot. He was declared dead on the scene by medical personnel,” said Twigg.
Two murder dockets have been opened.
In the double murder incident at Dorothy Court, police were called to the scene shortly after midnight, where they found two men aged 21 and 25, with multiple gunshot wounds to their bodies.
One suspect, aged 25, was arrested in connection with the murder of a 34-year-old man found dead on the corner of Duinefontein Road and Jordaan Street. Police seized a 9mm pistol.
A 25-year-old man was arrested after following up information of a second suspect, while being attacked by the community. This resulted in the recovery of a 9mm pistol with ammunition found abandoned at the crime scene.
“Our officers will remain in the area and the community will feel our presence, which is to create a safer environment for all.
“In addition, operations jointly by the SAPS’s Anti-Gang Unit, the metro police and members of the Crime Intelligence Unit have been tasked with keeping the peace in Manenberg,” said Twigg.
DA provincial spokesperson for community safety, Reagan Allen, said Leap officers were deployed on Saturday.
“The unit will further capacitate and bolster the operations led by the Anti-Gang Unit and the metro police to curb the gang violence in the area. Once again, we can see how cooperation between the different spheres of government leads to efficient service delivery to residents,” said Allen.
Anyone with any information about the above crime incidents can call the investigating officer Detective Sergeant Ayanda Dyusha on 079 894 1343 or anonymously phone Crime Stop on 086 0010 111 or SMS Crime Line at 32211.
Cape Times