Right to life in WC still being curtailed by gang violence

CAPE TOWN - The Cape Flats Safety Forum said on Human Rights Day that the right to life, which is enshrined in South Africa's Constitution, is still being curtailed by gang violence and shootings in the Western Cape.

This after police bolstered its units operating in gang and crime hotspots on the Cape Flats following a spate of shootings in certain areas recently.

SAPS intervention follows a recent spike in incidents of murder and attempted murder in Mitchells Plain, Bishop Lavis, Philippi, Ravensmead and Elsies River.

Police spokesperson Malcom Poje: "Additional deployment in the form of members from the anti-gang unit, tactical response teams, Operation Lockdown Two, Operation Restore and public order police have descended on identified areas on the Cape Flats."

The Cape Flats Safety Forum's Abie Isaacs said the extra forces were welcomed but a new approach was needed.

"We also need to acknowledge that today we celebrate Human Rights Day and obviously, the right to live is enshrined in our Constitution - it's a basic human right - so hence on that basis, we are also saying to the agencies they should have a multi-faceted approach and include community orgainsations."

Isaacs said police would have better results if they involved people from the affected communities in their efforts to curb crime.