Mitchells Plain community police forums unite against escalating gang violence

Norman Jantjes, the Chairperson of the MPCPF

The Mitchells Plain, Lentegeur and Strandfontein community police forums (CPFs) convened an emergency meeting of community stakeholders and organisations on Saturday, 5 July to develop an immediate and comprehensive response to the surge in gang-related shootings, which recently claimed five lives and left more than 14 people injured.

Tragically, the victims include innocent residents caught in the crossfire of gang violence. Another four persons have since been gunned down while a further six were injured.

The meeting was attended by representatives from different sub forums and neighbourhood watch groups, non-government organisations (NGOs), the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC), and the Athlone and Bishop Lavis CPFs.

They were addressed, among others, by Fransina Lukas, chairperson of the Western Cape Community Policing Board and Dr Llewellyn Macmaster, chairperson of the Cape Crime Crisis Coalition.

Following a thorough situation analysis, the meeting issued demands for a programme of coordinated and integrated actions that bring calm and reassurance to the entire community.

These actions must be implemented immediately and in full consultation with the entire community. Such actions include but are not restricted to the following:

• A coordinated plan by all law enforcement agencies of the state to bring an immediate and total end to all shootings and gang-related violence in Mitchells Plain.
• The urgent arrest of all gang leaders operating in Mitchells Plain.
• The summoning of the Western Cape provincial police commissioner, the national Minister of Police, and City and provincial law enforcement officials to a community meeting within the coming week. At this meeting, authorities must present a detailed plan to dismantle gang networks and end the culture of impunity plaguing Mitchells Plain and the broader Cape Flats.

To unite the community and demand justice, the following actions have been planned:

• Motorcade: A procession through the worst-affected areas on Sunday, 06 July 2025, to show solidarity and demand peace.
• Inter-faith services: All religious leaders and organisations are called upon to hold inter-faith gatherings across Mitchells Plain in the coming week.
• Mass peace festival: A youth-focused event to promote unity and non-violence. 
• Mass peace march: A large-scale community march will take place on Sunday, 13 July 2025, to amplify the call for safety and justice.

The CPFs are also leveraging an unfolding Mitchells Plain anti-gang strategy, with 14 key elements identified, placing special emphasis on empowering young people who are often the victim and perpetrators of gang-related violence.

We refuse to accept gang violence as a norm in our community. The bloodshed must end, and those responsible must face justice.

We call on every resident of Mitchells Plain to stand together, support these initiatives, and demand action from those in power.

The Mitchells Plain community will not be silent. We urge all stakeholders – government, law enforcement, and civil society – to act decisively before more lives are lost.

Some resolutions were adopted, including an urgent meeting with SAPS provincial commissioner’s office as well as a motorcade, interfaith services and a mass peace march.

More information will be provided in the ensuing days.