Community leaders and faith-based organisations from Elsies River, Bishop Lavis, Ravensmead, Uitsig and surrounds say they are fed up with the ongoing gang violence.

Last month, 8-year-old Grantham Jamiel Van Reenen was shot dead while making his way to Ravensmead High School. On Saturday, an alleged gang leader affiliated with the “Americans” gang was gunned down in Elsies River.

In a plea for calm to be restored, residents will have a peace march and rally this Sunday. The aim is to shed light on their concerns regarding safety especially during the festive season and school holiday. The Elsies River Community Policing Forum’s Imraahn Mukaddam said he is worried. The residents fear a retaliation attack after the gang leader’s murder.

“We had the shooting over the weekend of one of the leaders of the Americans, quite a prominent leader, so we are fearing that there will be reprisals, following his death. The situation is still very tense in Elsies River,” said Mukaddam.

The demonstration coincides with the looming December/January school break.

“We want a safe space for our children. We want a safer community over the festive period. The level of violence is just not tolerable anymore, and it’s just so senseless that so many young lives are being lost,” concluded Mukaddam.

The march will start at the Elsies River Civic Centre on Sunday at 3pm. This will be followed by the rally at 5pm.

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