Cape Town - New Police Minister Fikile Mbalula visited an Elsies River community on Thursday, where four people were killed in a ruthless shooting, and had a stern message for gangsters: your lives will be made unbearable.
Mbalula, along with Western Cape MEC of Community Safety, Dan Plato, met with the Elsies River neighbourhood watches and Community Policing Forum, before going door-to-door to visit families of the victims of Monday night’s attack.
Plato said that violence on the Cape Flats had become the norm.
“Violence in the Cape has become a normal kind of phenomenon, but this is not normal to me. Children are getting killed daily. Children younger than 16 years old are dying like flies. We are looking forward to working with you,” he told the minister.
Minister of Police Fikile Mbalula addressed the people of Leonsdale in Elsies River.Picture: Phando Jikelo
Mbabula then said that criminals should not have peace, the community should.
“It is a sad moment that we come to this community where children have died, people killed when they were enjoying their time and innocent people were killed,” he said.
“We know that it is not easy for the community around here because these gangsters have projected themselves as too powerful."
“No criminals should be allowed to dish out money like the pension. Only the state gives pension.”
Mbalula said one of the ways to combat violence was to get all illegal firearms off the street and destroy them.
“Some of the guns found are those of police. We need to correct this,” he said.
Fikile speaks with residents of Leonsdale in Elsies River. Picture: Phando Jikelo
Mbalula said the war on crime will not be won overnight and appealed to people for help.
“Police cannot do this alone. I know it is difficult for the community as these thugs intimidate and nobody wants to die,” he said.
“Police are working hard and intensifying in and around these areas with all the resources we’ve got, with all our might. We cannot allow society to be gripped in fear by criminals and gangsters who run amok in our communities."
“We must squeeze the space for criminals and make it unbearable. I can assure you we are going to be in their faces wherever they are; it is not going to be business as usual. We will make sure these criminals have an unbearable life. I am here to assure the people of Elsies River that peace is coming.”
The minister with a convoy of police then visited the crime scene where 13 people where shot on Monday in Tiara Road.
Mbalula visited homes to convey his condolences to families who lost loved ones and offered words of encouragement to those who had family members in hospital.