“To die before turning 18, is not on…young people are robbed of their lives and future,” this according to Hope Pentecostal representative Dorothy Soetwater who joined a protest at Steenberg Police Station on Thursday 7 July.
Community leaders, local councillors, members of the Retreat Taxi Association and residents of Steenberg, Lavender Hill and Retreat joined forces to hand over a memorandum of demands to Western Cape Community Safety and Police Oversight Minister Reagen Allen.
“I feel it is so wrong that young people have to be robbed of their lives and their future. We need protection. Our young people need to be protected,” said Soetwater.
“If the police can just do their jobs and do what we ask, to be there for our young people and to be visible. It really angers me so much, why do they not patrol?”
A memorandum, which includes a motion of no confidence in police, states that it serves to address the “gross inadequate policing by Steenberg police and Muizenberg police”.
It further states that both policing precincts had been “plagued by gang violence, warfare and drug abuse including various acts of crime” for decades.
Soetwater said it was sad to see how the communities were affected by the ongoing gang violence.
“I feel so sad and we are so angry that so much hurt and heartache are brought onto families. We need the police to do their job.
“We asked for Leap (Law Enforcement Advancement Plan) officers, they only came in for a few days and then left. We also need law enforcement and even Metro Police to come and assist.
“Gangs are fighting for territory and now they are killing our people.”
Lucinda Evans, founder of Philisa Abafazi Bethu Women Centre, said residents are feeling unsafe due to shootings taking place daily.
“The biggest thing is active shootings daily, there is no stabilisation in the area and we feel unsafe, there are also the people who died. The relationship with the police, the Community Policing Forum (CPF) and the community is irretrievable. The CPF must also go,” protested Evans.
She added that one of their demands included the removal of the Steenberg Police Station commander.
“The members of Steenberg police are going to die like us because the environment they are working in is completely unsafe. You cannot work in an environment like that.
“My demand is that there must be at least 12 police officers per shift, excluding admin staff, which would give you around five operational vehicles in the area.”
Organiser of the event Ward 68 councillor Marita Petersen said the motion of no confidence is not aimed to “defame any individual or to put police in disrepute” but to effect change for the communities.
“Each day a young life is lost. Crime is liquid and a shifting commodity. Crime has no boundaries. We need these two stations to work in unison. We need these CPFs to work in unison. Together as leaders and the community we can and must hold hands to bring about the change we wish to see in our communities and we as leaders will stand firm to effect that change,” she said.
In a statement, Allen said he would ensure that all the relevant matters were brought to the attention of the provincial police commissioner.
“I’m pleased to note the active citizenry in this community, as they’re ensuring that their voices are being heard in a peaceful manner.
“The matters highlighted in the memorandum refers to the community’s dissatisfaction with their local police, and as part of our oversight mandate, we’ll do what we can to ensure they’re attended to.
“I’m grateful that the police cluster commander, General Dyantyi was also present to receive the memorandum. The General is also committed to attending to the matters mentioned in the document.”
He added that it was critical for a cooperative and functioning relationship between police and the community.
