Cape Town - The Cape Crime Crisis Coalition has called for urgent action after 95 people were killed in just seven days.
The Western Cape witnessed one of its bloodiest weeks from August 5 to 11.
On Sunday, 17 people were murdered, with only two arrests made. Additionally, 11 people were wounded, leading to one arrest. On the same day, 16 sexual assault cases were reported, one kidnapping, and seven incidents of illegal firearm and ammunition possession, resulting in 12 arrests.
The incidents include a murder in Delft on Cameron Road, N2 Gateway, where an unidentified man was found with gunshot wounds to his chest. At the scene, seven 9mm and seven R5 cartridges were recovered.
In Dullah Omar Street, Fisantekraal, Durbanville, a man with a bullet wound to his neck and a swollen mouth was found lying on the road.
In Salberau, Elsies River, a 19-yearold was killed in the living room of a house, with gunshot wounds to his head and arm. The residents were asleep in the bedrooms when they heard a knock at the front door, followed by the door being kicked open and multiple gunshots. The suspects were not seen, as the occupants hid.
Cape Crime Crisis Coalition co-founder Llewellyn MacMaster said: “What is encouraging is that (Police) Minister Senzo Mchunu said he wanted to meet with the City and province and he realised that the politicking is not going to solve the problem.
“We ask for more urgent intervention because it is becoming a deep crisis. The trauma in our communities requires more than just a business-asusual approach,” MacMaster said.
“At that meeting in Hanover Park he promised to invite people like us and it’s been weeks and we haven’t heard anything. We are not sure when they are going to start doing things and we understand that he needs to consult as widely as possible.
“We understand quick fixes to assist with crime, but interventions must be short-term objectives to stop crime. Many feel that the army is not the solution but sometimes that can be part of the short-term intervention with the police leading that operation.
“We need all the spheres of government working together. That is why we alerted the Minister of Correctional Services when we heard that George Geweld Thomas was transferred to the province because our understanding is that this is a wider plot to intensify the gang war in the communities.
“They have means to communicate with their structures, even him being transferred back to Pretoria doesn’t mean that he has not communicated with the gang’s hierarchy.”
Cape Argus