Cape Town - The shootings which last week claimed the lives of three people in Manenberg are believed to be over gang turf.
Anti-crime activist and founder of Manenberg Safety Forum, Roegshanda Pascoe said the incidents were related to rivalry between gangs in the area who “want to send a message” in the fight for turf.
Pascoe said one of the three slain victims was a former gangster who had been involved in gang activity in his youth but had been reformed for a number of years.
“So either this was an old grudge being held or was an easy target to send a message.
“Apparently they have made peace but we know that they only make peace for a short while until after the funerals then it’s back to the same, the moment their turfs are threatened. Manenberg has got more police in the area and yet they still can’t act preventatively and it’s due to them being controlled by red tape and politics. It’s not a community-centred approach,” said Pascoe.
According to Pascoe the new boots on the ground in Manenberg are “not alive to the reality and corruption”.
“These are constables who are fresh out of police college and are inexperienced to the corruption and reality. We can place thousands of police in one community but it still won’t work due to a rotten and failing system. We have pleaded for collaboration with SAPS for so long and I believe together we can fight the scourge of violence and not just gang and gun violence in our communities,” said Pascoe.
Police spokesperson Joseph Swartbooi confirmed three reported murders in the Manenberg precinct.
No arrests have yet been made.
“Police attended a complaint on August 26. On their arrival at the crime scene close to Noelle Court at around 7:55am, they found the body of an unknown man who (had) sustained gunshot wounds to his body. The 41-year-old man was declared dead on the scene by the medical personnel. The unknown suspects fled the scene and are yet to be arrested.
“The motive for the attack is unknown,” said Swartbooi.
In another incident, on August 24, police attended a scene in Heideveld Road where two people were shot and killed and another was left injured.
“On arrival at the scene in Heideveld Road at around 12:45pm, they found the bodies of two unknown men who had sustained gunshot wounds. The men aged 15 and 30 were declared dead on the scene by the medical personnel.
“A 32-year-old man who sustained injuries as a result of gunshots, was transferred to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. The unknown suspects who fled the scene are yet to be arrested. The motive for the attack is unknown,” said Swartbooi.
Police are investigating cases of murder and attempted murder.
Anyone with information on the incidents can anonymously contact Crime Stop at 086 0010 111 or SMS Crime Line at 32211.
Cape Times