A surge in gang related murders in Grassy Park and Parkwood has communities living in fear.
Ward 65 councillor Donovan Nelson has called for an urgent meeting with local and provincial government following an increase in shootings in Lotus River and Parkwood.
In a statement on Wednesday 16 February, Nelson said he wrote to acting provincial minister for Community Safety to urgently intervene.
“I have today written to the Acting MEC for Community Safety, Minister Anroux Marais and Mayco Member for Community Safety, Alderman JP Smith to convene an urgent meeting to discuss the increase in gang related murders that occurred over the past month in Ward 65.
“It is a sad reality that many people continue to live in fear in our communities. On Tuesday 15 February another person was fatally shot in broad day light in 5th Avenue Grassy Park while children were commuting home from school and elderly were visiting the local corner store to purchase food items.”
Nelson added that police have limited resources and cannot be expected to be everywhere at once.
“The constant terror and fear that our residents have to endure, only because of a few, is unacceptable.
“I have therefore written to our provincial and local government safety departments to ensure that adequate resources are allocated to Ward 65 to mitigate the current situation.
“We know that Saps has very limited resources and we cannot always expect them to be everywhere.”
Nelson called on the community to come forward with any information regarding gang activities in the area.
“We have to do this together. Not only as government and law enforcement agencies, but as the community too. I therefore call upon the community to come forward with any information relating to these gang activities, and ask that we unite against gangsterism.”
Residents have been posting their concerns on Facebook after numerous shootings in the area.
Nariemah Dhansay wrote that serious intervention was needed.
“Another person shot and killed on the field at Rooikrans Avenue. We need serious intervention in Grassy Park, Lotus River, Pelican Park and Parkwood.”
Joan Marias commented that it simply wasn’t safe anymore.
“This is so sad man, when is it going to stop? In the week someone was shot on the corner of First Road and 5th Avenue, now this.”
While Yusuf Mohamed claimed that all the crimes were gang-related.
“All the crimes are gang-related. We need to take our streets back. We need to mobilise the community. Enough is enough.”
