Games over gangs in Heideveld

About 100 people joined an evening of games and sport in Heideveld last Friday.

The Father’s House church youth leader Estwynn Malgas organised the event between Rosa and Susan courts to steer children away from gangs.

Various church youth projects in the area were helping to draw young people off the streets, said Mr Malgas, who is also the chairperson of the youth desk at the Manenberg police station.

The efforts were supported by the Manenberg police station and included talks from motivational speakers, games, competitions and prizes, and more, he said.

Heideveld was crying out for peace and needed to unite in prayer, he said, adding that residents needed to play their part in tackling social ills and not simply rely on the police and the government.

Weeks of gang conflict in the area have claimed several lives, but on Sunday May 5, the rival Josters and Westiders gangs made a peace deal, according to Manenberg police spokesman Captain Ian Bennett, but Mr Malgas said the deal was scuttled when gangs shot at each other. Captain Bennett could not confirm that.

Mr Malgas said he hoped to continue helping youth being traumatised by ongoing gang violence in Heideveld.

“I feel a calling to operate in gang territory with the hopes of bringing peace to all gangs in Heideveld,” he said.

Another youth leader from the church, Nicholas Truter, said drug dealing at schools and peer pressure were just some of the problems youngsters said they were worried about.

Parents should be involved in all aspects of their children’s lives to make sure they were okay, he said.

“If we as the church can also influence them toward a positive future then all the things they face, including gangsterism being portrayed as something cool, can be countered with good and positive things. Parents should help their children with homework and not just tell them to do it, and make sure they get out to the positive things like the youth programmes,” he said.

Church youth leader Jole Cruywagen said youngsters needed sport, more open spaces to play and opportunities after they completed matric.

“Some youth don’t even want to come outside of their homes because of all the influences including gangsterism and drugs,” he said.