- The Manenberg Police warn residents to be be on the lookout for robbers this festive season.
- Station commander Brig Sanele Zama says the station has already started its safer festive season plan.
- Manenberg’s crime prevention teams including the integrated operational teams increased visibility amid the gang violence during October.
As the festive season approaches, Manenberg Police continue to clamp down on gun and gang violence, boasting an 18-gun confiscation in the precinct in October.
But while gang tensions have somewhat subsided over the past few weeks following a bloody gang war earlier last month (“’We are being held hostage’”, People’s Post 31 October), police are now calling on residents to be more vigilant as street robberies increase.
Station commander Brig Sanele Zama says the station has already started its safer festive season plan under the national Operation Shanela launched by Police Minister Bheki Cele at the safer festive season launch on Friday 13 October (“Cele’s ‘red zone’ issue”, People’s Post, 17 October).
Manenberg’s crime prevention teams including the integrated operational teams increased visibility amid the gang violence during October.
During October several arrests were made including a 13-year-old boy arrested and brought in for attempted murder
Police have also made several murder arrests following the sporadic shooting.
A 36-year-old man was arrested for the murder of a 22-year-old man who was shot several times at point blank range in Zuurberg Road, Heideveld.
“The relentless and brutal murders took place in broad daylight without any regard for innocent lives of bystanders,” says police spokesperson, Capt Ian Bennett.
“This murderous attack on opposing gangs seems to send a clear message out as to how heartless and ruthless gangs can be.”
Along with a deployment of City of Cape Town safety officers attached to various units, Zama deployed his integrated operational officers around the clock.
“Brazen attacks on Police officers will not be tolerated. We will defend the safety of our community, attacks on any law enforcement members will not deter us from ensuring the safety of every person within Manenberg Policing Precinct,” says Bennett.
Police are calling on residents to become more active in reporting and combatting crime in the precinct.
In some of the successes for the month, six men aged between 22 and 33 were arrested for the possession of firearms and ammunition.
Another abandoned firearm was also confiscated.
Zama says the deployment from the City helps the precinct a lot in terms of strengthening police visibility in the precinct.
Some of the confiscations of firearms were as a result of these officers’ interventions, he says.
Heading into the festive season, Zama says they will increase their crime prevention patrols around schools to keep the increasing gang element from the learners and interfere with the drug trade taking place.
Road robberies, especially cellphones, are also a concern along busy routes as people head to work, as well as Sassa pay points in the precinct.
“Robberies are not only taking place with real firearms. We are also finding out that some of our aggravated robberies are taking place with imitation firearms,” says Zama.
Nyanga Junction remains a hot spot.
Zama continues that domestic violence tends to increase as well and happens in an area where they cannot police – behind closed doors.
Police are calling on residents to report these crimes.
More successes
Crime prevention operations continued into November with four firearms conciscated.
- On Wednesday 1 November, a 33-year-old man was arrested in possession of a .38 special revolver in Zuurberg Road, Heideveld.
- On Saturday 4 November, a 17-year-old boy was arrested in Longkloof Circle, Heideveld.
- On Sunday 5 November an 18-year-old man was arrested in Gonubie Road, Manenberg.
- Another firearm has been confiscated from a legal owner and the investigation into these circumstances continue.
- Drugs to the value of R100 000 has also been confiscated in unrelated incidents.
Anyone with information on crime is urged to call Manenberg Police on 021 699 9400 or CrimeStop on 08600 10111.
