Civil society organisations and an angry Delft community descended on the Bellville Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, calling for plans to address gender-based violence in the wake of deadly shootings.
The group, Action Society, Women Impacting a Nation, and residents handed over a memorandum to the court manager calling for greater partnership between police, communities and the judiciary.
An online petition with nearly 10 000 signatures was drawn up after the murder of 15-year-old Aqeelah Schroeder last week Tuesday and the attempted murder of a 13-year-old girl three days later.
Farida Ryklief, the founder of Women Impacting a Nation, said the community wanted concrete plans in place.
“Last week, the community joined hands with neighbourhood watches, walking buses and other community role players handing a memorandum to the Delft police station.
“Today, they handed over that same demand to the court manager of the Bellville Magistrate's Court,” said Rykleif.
The petition called for police visibility in hotspots, proper investigations geared towards successful convictions and no bail for suspects facing charges of murder, rape and gender-based violence.
“We don't want those convicted back in our community when they tend to re-offend. If we the community remain silent many more lives will be lost.
“The police need to ensure that our streets are gun-free.
“Our children need to be able to feel safe when walking down our streets; they shouldn't duck and dive from bullets. This is not a way of life. We had enough!” read the petition.