To fight gang violence, state must gain control over illicit flow of drugs and guns - Hill-Lewis

CAPE TOWN - Cape Town Mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis has noted with concern that gang wars in the city are fuelled by drugs and money.

The mayor was speaking at the funeral service of five-year-old Ameer Abrahams in Manenberg on Friday.

Abrahams was struck by a stray bullet during a suspected rival gang shootout on Monday while walking with his father to the shops, and later died in hospital.

Hundreds of residents gathered at the five-year-old's home to pay their respects.

During the emotional send-off, Hill-Lewis told Eyewitness News that he would ensure that justice is served.

READ: Case of 3 suspects linked to 5-year-old Ameer Abrahams murder postponed

He added that the state needs to gain control over the flow of illicit drugs to win the fight against gang violence.

"Illegal guns which help fuel this war, it will be difficult to see it come to an end. And of course, we have to make sure that people here feel that they have an alternative growing up, that they can do something other than see their way out in the life of crime."

Meanwhile, the Manenberg Community Policing Forum (CPF) chairperson, Vernon Visagie said that residents have the responsibility to work with the South African Police Service (SAPS) to identify those who are behind heinous crimes in their community.

 "The first thing that we need to do is stop blaming SAPS because we are under-resourced. We need to say to ourselves, and keep ourselves accountable to what is taking place because it's our community, and therefore the community needs to stand together."