‘We are a broken, bleeding community’
About 60 Manenberg residents marched to their local police station on Saturday, calling for more police visibility in a neighbourhood plagued by gang violence.
They marched from the circle at The Downs Road, carrying posters saying, “Coloured lives matter,” and “Stop killing our own,” and shouting, ”We want peace,“ and ”Enough is enough.“
Resident Yusuf Hope said that stone throwing was on the rise and parents covered up for their children.
He said children had ambition, but it needed to be nurtured, and gang shootings instilled fear in residents who lacked confidence in the police.
“Our demands are enshrined in the constitution so that needs to be upheld. Our children are playing with guns and stones. Not every person in Manenberg is a gangster. We need education and prevention, and we need to strengthen gun-control laws and the enforcement of them.”
Residents presented a memorandum at Manenberg police station calling for programmes to help youth at risk; cultural activities; social crime prevention; increased funding for community-based programmes and services; and policy initiatives addressing inequality, social injustice, and poverty.
A comprehensive approach was needed to tackle gun violence, but the police were more reactive than proactive, said Mr Hope,
“We want to know, do you have a plan before gun violence flares up again? Are we going to wait for it to flare up again? We want to be part of that plan. The Manenberg police precinct covers many areas including 90% coloured areas, but our police officers are not coloured and don’t know our areas. We want to work with you,” he said.
“We are a broken, bleeding community. We need SAPS and Law Enforcement to be efficient in doing their work. With the resources being combined now, as a community, we demand more visibility. Police must lock up the children shooting and throwing stones. Children won’t succeed if parents keep covering up. Parents, please speak to your children.”
Another resident, Nashiefa Andrews, said that was important to stand up against crime to show children that adults took it seriously. She said that residents needed to unite to fight crime.
“It’s so sad what’s happening to our our young boys. There is no future for them. One day I want to be able to tell my children that I stood up against crime,” she said.
Pastor Shayna Manuel, from the Harvestime Pentecostal Church, said sporadic shootings continued to plague Manenberg.
“It’s not about religion or politics. We are here as the Manenberg community because something must be done. Children can’t go to school because of the shootings,” she said.
Manenberg police chief Colonel Jayce Naidoo said policing started at home and not at the police station.
“If you want change, if you see something, say something. SAPS and Law Enforcement have been spending most of their time in Manenberg. I am willing to work with anyone to fight crime,” he said.
