CAPE TOWN–A community-led petition calling on the Grassy Park Policing Forum (CPF) to convene an urgent public meeting with the police is gaining traction.
At the time of going to print the petition, launched by Ward 65 councillor Donovan Nelson on Thursday 14 August, had garnered 500 signatures.
The petition was launched in response to shooting incidents in Overcome Heights and Lotus River last week.
At least nine people were shot, five of them A 20-year-old man was shot dead in Lotus River on Thursday 14 August and four other men sustained gunshot wounds.
A murder and attempted-murder cases were registered for investigation.
Grassy Park police responded to a complaint of a shooting in Fifth Avenue, Lotus River and on their arrival on the scene found the body of a young man. He was declared dead by medical personnel.
“Four other men between ages 20 and 72 years sustained gunshot wounds and were taken to a medical facility,” said police spokesperson Sgt Wesley Twigg.
“The circumstances surrounding the incident were under investigation and arrests are yet to be made.”
Earlier, the police’s Anti-Gang Unit (AGU) confirmed its members were investigating the deaths of four men who were gunned down in Overeome Heights, Muizenberg.
Nelson told People’s Post that urgent intervention is required to clamp down on the shootings and violence plaguing the area.
“This brazen act of violence, carried out in broad daylight, has once again highlighted the urgent need for decisive action to address gang-related shootings in the Grassy Park pre-cinct,” he said.
“As ward councillor i am deeply concerned about the safety of our residents, workers and especially our children. Communities such as Lotus River, Parkwood, Ottery and Pelican Park are living under constant threat from criminal elements that show no regard for human life.”
Regarding the petition, Nelson said police visibility remained a major challenge in his ward.
“The goal is clear; we need the police to present a transparent and detailed plan for increas ing resources, improving visible policing and restoring public confidence. This must happen with urgency and full com munity involvement. Our residents deserve to feel safe in their homes, on their streets and at their places of work. I will continue to push for inmediate action and will work with all stakeholders to ensure safety and order are restored.”
Lotus River resident and Ottery Neighbour-hood Watch member Stanford James (65) said the community was in an uproar about the recent shootings.
“The community is sick and tired. We have people on our neighbourhood watch that con-Stanty tel the police to be present especially when the school starts in the morning or when people are going or coming from work in the evening.
This is a constant issue. Now it’s happening in Fifty Avenue, Lotus River, It’s a war zone and one doesn’t know where to walk or sit; the police are not coming to the party so the petition is a great idea.”
Asked about new developments in the Overcome fleights shooting investigation, police spokesperson Col Andre Traut said: “there were no new developments to share at this stage.”
As gun violence continues to grip the Cape Flats, the Nyanga Sub-District Community Police Forum (CPF) Board launched the #SilenceTheGuns campaign at Phoenix High School to raise awareness about the devastating impact of illegal firearms in the communities.
The launch, on Saturday 9 August, was attended by about 300 people, including yar pusners bourhood watches, police and law enforcement.
Anyone with information can contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the mobile application MySARS anonymously.
To sign the petition visit https://www.ipeti-tions.com/petition/stop-the-shootings-grassy-
park-police station.
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