Mitchells Plain residents hope law enforcement deployment will curb shootings
It's been rocked by two shootings over the past five days in which 10 people were shot and six died.
CAPE TOWN - More law enforcement officers will be patrolling the streets of Mitchells Plain. It's hoped their deployment will be permanent following a rash of deadly shootings in the area.
It's been rocked by two shootings over the past five days in which 10 people were shot and six died.
READ: Fritz: Dealing with gang violence root causes only way to calm Mitchells Plain
Some residents say they feared the next gunshot, while others say authorities had failed them by only acting now.
Teenage boys were among those killed in recent gun violence in the area.
Community Safety MEC Albert Fritz said he remained focused on social upliftment as a means of addressing gangsterism.
“We don’t need to become gangsters because of unemployment and that's why we need to continue to assist with those social upliftment programs, but gangsters are few and they are cowards.”
READ: Another Cape teen (15) dies after being caught in suspected gang crossfire
Additional safety resources are also being utilised: “We brought more leap officers for instance to Mitchells Plain to stabilise and to assist the police because it's going to escalate, the violence is going to escalate,” Fritz added.
Besides the 50 municipal officers, police have also increased visibility since the recent shootings.
#MassShootings The grieving families say they want more to be done in the neighbourhood thats prone to gang violence. LP pic.twitter.com/qoQrHP7G2r
EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) March 1, 2021
#MassShootings Police Minister Bheki Cele is also expected to visit the gang-ridden area tomorrow. LP pic.twitter.com/3irTmERYt7
EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) March 1, 2021
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