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