After pupil killed in shooting, Elsies River residents blame police, CPF for lack of law enforcement in area
Over 200 residents gathered at the Kunjalo Fellowship Church in Elsies River on Thursday night to discuss solutions to the ongoing gang wars in the area.
Elsies River residents gathered at the Kunjalo Fellowship Church on Thursday night to discuss solutions to the ongoing gang wars in the area. Picture: Melikhaya Zagagana/EWN
CAPE TOWN - Elsies River residents are blaming SAPS, metro police, and their local CPF for a lack of law enforcement visibility in the area.
On Monday, 14-year-old Jahmiel van Reenen was shot and killed during what's believed was a gang rival shootout on Tuesday morning.
Two other teens were rushed to hospital after sustaining gunshot wounds.
Over 200 residents gathered at the Kunjalo Fellowship Church in Elsies River on Thursday night to discuss solutions to the ongoing gang wars in the area.
Former Western Cape Provincial Parliament Member, and leader of People's Movement for Change, Marius Fransman is also amongst the audience.
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Elsies River residents said there were clear divisions within SAPS and CPF in their community.
They claimed that some SAPS and CPF members were colluding with criminals.
Community leader, Manny Niekerk, said that regular community meetings would help them find solutions to the ongoing gang violence in the area.
"It is very clear that the people want something to be done, and so I believe that if we come together in unity, we will be able to tackle this pandemic that's within our communities."
Elsies River CPF members declined EWN's request for a comment.
Some residents said that children as young as eight-years-old were roaming their streets with guns.
Community activist, Wilhelmina van Dyk said that with more child-headed households in the area, youngsters were more at risk of choosing crime to make ends meet.
"Wherever there's poverty, there will be all the other things coming around. There's so much that's attached to that because what informs that person going into that space, what informs a child of ten to pick up a gun and shoot somebody?"
Youth activist from the area, Angelo Phillips, said that a lack of youth developmental initiatives was also a contributing factor to crime and use of drugs.
"The main problem is that where we come from plays a different role in our lives. We come from circumstances, very bad circumstances. We come to a community where we try to strive for assistance, we do not get the assistance that we need. We do not get opportunities that we can say, 'look, I can see a difference, I can see myself'. We choose to run to drugs, we choose to run to gang violence."