LENTEGEUR AT WAR

Gun violence on the Cape Flats has rukked hand uit recently after another video is circulating online of a group of gangsters opening fire in broad daylight in Lentegeur, Mitchells Plain.

The video is captured through a window and shows a group of jongens shooting while running across an open park where children would generally be seen playing.

The video shows the group running and someone can be seen going down on one knee firing multiple shots. Another two of the shooters can be seen exchanging a gun.

Chattering can be heard from the group with one saying: “Moenie hardloop nie.”

The shooting took place between Nerine and Sylvia Street over the weekend and is believed to be a turf war going on between rival gangs, said to be the Fancy Boys and Americans.

Michael Jacobs, Chairperson for the Lentegeur Community Policing Forum (CPF) said that they have met with the Station Commander Colonel Umavathie Rameshwarnath, MEC Ricardo Mackenzie and councillor Avron Plaatjies on Monday to discuss the current situation and what needs to be done to stabilise the affected area.

Jacobs explains: “We as the Lentegeur Community Police Forum, are deeply concerned about the escalating issue of gang violence within our community, which is causing significant harm to our residents, particularly our youth, and disrupting the fabric of our society."

“We have seen an explosion in shootings over the weekend in Lentegeur, often occurring in public spaces and impacting innocent bystanders. The widespread fear of gang violence is limiting people's freedom of movement and creating a sense of insecurity within neighborhoods.”

“We urge SAPS and other law enforcement agencies to implement targeted strategies to dismantle gang networks, including increased police presence in high-risk areas, proactive investigations, and community engagement initiatives to prevent recruitment. Crime intelligence to be proactive as to ensure that early warning systems are in place to deal with any imminent gang threat.”

The video was also shared by Crime activist and Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Ian Cameron and called on Western Cape Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant-General Thembisile Patekile to meet with him.

He wrote: "This weekend from Friday to Sunday at least 21 people were murdered in the Cape Flats. The video below shows one incident. This is reality while the SAPS provincial commissioner claims they are winning. Nee man generaal, die mense is mos nie stupid nie. Will give feedback once meeting of previous post complete.”

Abie Isaacs Chairperson of the Cape Flats Safety Forum added: “We have noted with concern that open spaces (such as) play parks have been used as the battlefield for urban terror/gang war.

"We call for the deployment of SANDF as force multiplier to SAPS on dealing with this gang violence. We further call for special probe to be set up in dealing with gun violence.”