‘Hanover Park is like a ghost town at night’

Hanover Park remains tense following the fatal shooting of a man and the wounding of two women, say community leaders.

Two women, aged 26 and 52, were wounded in gang crossfire in Rywood Road at 12.30pm, on Thursday June 27, and a day earlier, a 33-year-old man was shot dead in Silica Walk, at noon, say police.

The man was found with multiple gunshot wounds, and 33 spent cartridges were found at the scene, said Philippi police spokesman Captain Lance Goliath.

No arrests have been made in either of the incidents, and Captain Goliath urged anyone with information to come forward.

Hanover Park Community Police Forum spokeswoman Kaashiefa Mohamed said there was an increased police presence in Hanover Park, but more boots were needed on the ground as children couldn’t play outside and people were being robbed on their way to work and when they drew their social grants.

Children were also throwing stones at SAPS and Law Enforcement vehicles, she said.

“Parents need to take accountability for their kids. They need to look after their children and discipline them... When we speak to parents about it, they take the sides of their children and don’t see it as a bad thing; they entertain it. It is not fair, we need the police on our side.”

The community should unite to fight gang violence, she said.

“Innocent women and children are killed. This is a gun war not a gang war. If I look at the years that passed, we’ve had imbizos, marches, meetings, and more, but something drastic needs to happen. The community needs to stand together.”

Hanover Park Residents’ Forum chairman Denver Andrews said there was less shooting in the area by Saturday July 7, but gunshots could still be heard.

“People are saying that they don’t feel safe. Stone throwing has increased in various parts of Hanover Park, especially in Newfields Village and some of the courts. When the one thing stops the other thing starts. We are trying to locate the root of the problem because it subsided significantly, now it started again. We are trying to increase safety in Hanover Park and create more programmes for the youth. The shooting is sporadic, and it just flares up. I don’t know if people are drunk or what the reason is,” he said.

A Hanover Park neighbourhood watch member, who did not want to be named as she fears for her safety, said: “We are fearful every day. Hanover Park is like a ghost town at night. Everyone goes inside early.

“Our system is failing us. We phone for back-up; they (the police) don’t care about our people here. Our children play in the road; we have to watch out for what’s coming next. They (the police) say we must phone if we need anything, but they are not doing anything. We are not getting paid for what we do. There are people caught with drugs so many times who are out the next day with no court appearance or anything.”