Shootings rob Bonteheuwel residents of their peace

Bonteheuwel residents are pleading for an end to crime in the area after two people were injured and one killed over the weekend. 

A resident, who wanted to remain anonymous out of fear for her safety, said gangsterism in the area was "very bad" with drugs and shooting infiltrating the community daily.

She said the area was not safe to walk in with about 10 shootings every day.

There had been no increase of police presence in the area, she said, but she had seen Bonteheuwel ward councillor Angus McKenzie and a few parents patrolling in front of Mimosa Primary School as shootings affected children going to and from school. 

She said residents feared for their lives daily. Children as young as 10 years old were doing the shooting, not just adults.

"The people know who they are but they are afraid to speak out. People don't trust the police. That is also why nothing is being solved and cases don't get to court. The atmosphere here is always anxious and we are afraid, always looking around. We are alert to everyone walking with their hands in their pockets, it's nerve-racking. The children know they must lay down when they hear shooting, it's really unfair," she said.  

Provincial police spokesman Sergeant Wesley Twigg, said over the weekend one man was killed and two men were injured in Teak Road, in separate incidents. In the first incident, on Friday May 23, at about 11.40pm, two men aged 37 and 42 were shot and wounded and taken to hospital for treatment. He said the motive for the shooting is gang-related. No arrests have been made. 

In the second shooting on Saturday May 24, at about 1.55am, a man was shot and killed. Police found him with a gunshot wound to his head. He was declared deceased on the scene. No arrests have been made.

"The motive for this shooting incident is also believed to be gang-related. A murder case was registered for investigation," said Sergeant Twigg. 

Another resident, Miskah Martin, said robberies on the side of Bonteheuwel where she lives had increased mostly at night. She said school children were affected by shootings in the area. 

"We had two robberies last week but we acted immediately and got the things back and called the police. I have seen an increase of police presence. There are shootings at all times of the day," she said. 

Mr McKenzie said gangsters were cowards who came out when there were no patrols and no police visibility.

He said that shootings over the last few weeks had increased and some residents were working hard to safeguard their streets. He said residents needed to speak up as the gangsters were their sons and husbands. 

"You know who they are. We won't give into gangsters, we are stronger than they are and we won't allow them to further destroy our community," he said. 

Mr McKenzie together with residents and City Law Enforcement have been patrolling outside of schools and hotspot areas in Bonteheuwel since last week to ensure pupils' safety when walking to school. The three schools most affected by shootings were Boundary and Mimosa Primary and Bonteheuwel High School, he said. 

Anyone with any information about these shooting incidents can call Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the mobile app MySAPS anonymously.