A 12-year-old girl was shot in her arm in Athburg Road, Hanover Park, last week.
Community leaders are calling for action to deal with frequent shootings and gang violence in Hanover Park.
Philippi police spokesman Captain Lance Goliath says police have increased their visibility in the area after a 12-year-old girl was shot in her arm in Athburg Walk, on Monday April 1, at 7pm.
Police are investigating a case of attempted murder, but no arrests have been made.
“Police will continue clamping down on criminals and their criminal activities in order to save lives, eradicate crime and bring the perpetrators thereof to book,” he said.
Hanover Park Community Police Forum chairwoman Kaashiefa Mohamed said the area had seen an increase in gang violence since the start of the school holidays and residents feared going outside.
An increased police presence had failed to stop the shootings, she said.
She complained that loyalties to family members in opposing gangs had, in some cases, caused divisions and fighting among some in the community.
She urged the community to unite and work with the police to fight gangsterism.
“They are killing our people and people need to stand against it. When the police come, they mislead the police and send them to the wrong perpetrators. We are losing our mothers and fathers and children to these gangs.
“Shootings over the last few days have been so hectic. It never stops... During the school holidays, things were so bad.
“Residents want answers about what is going on in Hanover Park. It’s an ongoing war in different areas.”
Hanover Park Residents’ Forum chairman Denver Andrews said that shootings happened at all times of the day but peaked when children went to and from school.
Many children bunked school because their parents feared they would get shot, he said.
“We have no idea who started this and who is doing the shooting, people are very afraid to leave their homes in the morning.
“We have requested police visibility when people go to work and there has been an increase. When shooting happens on the one side of Hanover Park, the police are on the other side.
“We need an integrated approach to end this violence. We as a community from top down and bottom up need to get a community plan in action and then we will be able to know who is responsible for this and see a decrease in violence.
“Young, unemployed people are the ones keeping the community hostage,” he said.
Anyone with information can call Detective Sergeant Temvelani Mnyaluza at 021 690 1516 or 082 469 6534. You can also call Crimestop at 08600 10111 or use the MySAPS App to report crime.