'We are fighting a losing battle’

Community crime fighters say it feels like they are fighting a losing battle in Manenberg, following the death of 24-year-old Aeesha Williams, who was hit by a stray bullet during an ongoing gang war.

Ms Williams was found dead by police in 2nd Avenue, Sherwood Park, on Wednesday June 26, at 9am; she had been shot in the back, said Manenberg SAPS spokesman Captain Ian Bennett, adding that rival gangs had been shooting at each other in Downs Road at the time.

“No arrests have been made. A case of murder has been opened for investigation.”

Manenberg Community Police Forum spokeswoman Vanessa Adriaanse said that following a few weeks of peace, the gang war in Manenberg and Heideveld continued to traumatise the community. Young people were being sucked into the cycle of violence, and parents feared for their children’s safety when schools reopened.

“They are shooting anyone now, not just their targets. Families are left without mothers, kids as orphans. The community is so sad and in fear. This is such a big concern. This is not a normal gang fight where it stops after a few days; it is continuing.

“We need assistance. People can’t go to work and come home in peace. Uber doesn’t want to come into the area. People are scared to go to work and to the shops. We can’t say what activated this war this time. We have seen Law Enforcement and police in the area, and they have their hands full. It is not enough; they need assistance.”

Sick people were dying because ambulances had to wait for a police escort to enter the “war zone”; mothers couldn’t attend the local clinic; and holiday programmes, meant to stop children joining gangs, had to be cancelled, she said.

“Some residents feel that police are failing the community and not doing enough. There needs to be other plans to assist the community more because right now we are seeing the same thing - visibility. Government officials need to tap in and assist the community of Manenberg and Heideveld. The harder we push the more it sometimes seems that we are fighting a losing battle.”

Manenberg Community Monitors Neighbourhood Watch chairman Radley Petersen said that shooting was “crazy” in Manenberg with what sounded like machine-gun fire throughout the day.

Neighbourhood watch members feared for their lives, he said.

“We are still patrolling but not in the hot spots. Our hands are tied; it is out of our control. It won’t get better any time soon. The gang fight started with the Hard Livings and Clever Kids. Now the Fancy Boys are also involved. It’s an all-round war in Manenberg; no one is safe.

“We took it upon ourselves to do this thankless job, but we can’t do what we vowed to do and help the community. With this gang violence, we can’t really patrol, but we remain visible and hope that they don’t shoot when they see us.

“Residents are appealing for prayers for Manenberg. SAPS is understaffed and they are not equipped to deal with what is going on. We need more police presence. The things the gangs are shooting about they can talk about, it’s a fight to survive here.”