With an escalation in mass murders in Mitchells Plain, activists, politicians and community forums are scratching their heads on what to do to end the carnage, with some calling for the army to be deployed while others want a commission of inquiry to be established to get the root causes of the gang violence.

Abie Isaacs, Chairperson of the Cape Flats Safety Forum, said the ongoing crisis is nothing short of “urban terror” and warns that residents are living in a state of fear while gangs tighten their grip on neighbourhoods.

“Our teams are out there 24-hours. Yes, we are still persistent and calling on the SANDF to stabilise and normalise the area,” Isaacs said. “We’re dealing with urban terror, as we are calling it.”

Isaacs said violence in hotspots such as Beacon Valley, Portlands, Westridge and Rocklands cannot simply be attributed to isolated domestic disputes as previously suggested by SAPS.

“It clearly isn’t initiation. It is not a family dispute, like the Police Commissioner alleges. We know what is needed – all we need is backup,” he said.

Isaacs expressed deep concern over shortcomings in National Crime Intelligence, adding that the presence of the SANDF must be accompanied by reliable military intelligence to be effective in what he refers to as “stubborn areas.”

“The so-called Shot Spotters are just not working.” Isaacs said. “What we’re saying is, in your hotspots – or like we refer to them, stubborn areas – the tools currently in place are failing.

“Extraordinary circumstances require extraordinary measures, like putting the area in lock-down. Let the police deal with the supply, which is the drugs and guns, and we deal with the demand, that is our kid with the help of government intervention,” he said.

The Safety Forum is advocating for a multi-pronged strategy to address both the supply of illegal guns and drugs, and the demand, which Isaacs said is driven by vulnerable youth.

Pointing to socio-economic conditions that leave young people susceptible to gang influence, Isaacs stressed the need to repurpose local Civic centres and invest in youth-focused programmes.

“Because of socio-economic circumstances, that is why our youth are leaning towards gangsterism. Look at our Civic centres – those should be utilised. Those are where we can steer the youth.”

According to a well-placed source, an estimated 30 gangs are operating in Mitchells Plain alone, and the current shootings are being attributed to ongoing turf and drug wars. With the population caught in the crossfire, the call for decisive action has grown more urgent than ever.

Supporting this call is leader of the Cape Coloured Congress Fadiel Adams, who said he believes the shootings is a diversion to a bigger political agenda.

“It’s very funny how these things happen when certain politicians are under scrutiny. It’s a diversion with a heavy cost. Many of our boys will die over the next few weeks. And I say this with great sadness.”

Adams said he for this reason believes the call for a Commission of Inquiry is necessary. 

“I think it will be successful. The reason they’ve consistently blocked the calls for a Commission of Inquiry into gang violence on the Cape Flats, is because when the high-profile politicians and the high-profile policemen are linked to the gangs, they could almost be members. 

“The inquiry will make sure that there is accountability. I’ve never liked the army in my neighborhood, but if it’s going to keep 10 of our sons from dying, then yes, with great sadness, deploy the army.”

However Francina Lukas, National Chairperson of the Community Policing Forum, has voiced her opposition to calls for another commission of inquiry into gang violence, arguing that such interventions have proven costly and ineffective in the past.

“We are at a stage where we’re not in favour of intervention requiring a commission of inquiry. On the backdrop of what happened in Khayelitsha, there was lots of money that was spent. The 20 recommendations — how many were actually followed through with?,” she asked.

Lukas believes that resources would be better spent addressing the root causes of gang violence, which she said are deeply rooted in socio-economic conditions.

“There are not enough opportunities. Residents are staying in places that are not often serviced. The long-term solution is for the government to invest in our youth, so that these youngsters don’t see gangsterism as a way out.

“Yes, it’s okay to ask the army to come in, but what happens after that? It becomes a cycle. 

“That long-term, sustainable solution requires government input, organisational input, community input.”

Lukas urged for proactive action, rather than waiting for tragedy to strike:

“Before the shootings, what did we do? Are we waiting to be activated by the deaths of our innocent children? We need to want to be part of the solution.”

Police spokesperson Colonel André Traut has confirmed that law enforcement has escalated in Mitchells Plain in response to the recent spike in gang-related violence.

“The recent surge in gang-related violence in the area has led to an intensified policing approach. Various SAPS operational units, in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies and departments, have been deployed to restore order and protect residents,” Traut said.

He added that the Cooperation Agreement between SAPS, the City of Cape Town, and the Western Cape Government is being used as a key strategy to stabilise the area and suppress criminal activity.

“An operational plan, details of which cannot be publicly disclosed for security reasons, is currently being implemented to ensure the safety of the community,” he noted.

Traut made it clear that police will not back down in the face of criminal threats:

“SAPS will not allow a handful of criminals to hold an entire community hostage. We remain resolute in our commitment to using all available resources to combat gangsterism and criminality with the full might of the law.”

tracy-lynn.ruiters@inl.co.za

Weekend Argus 

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