With escalating gun violence in Elsies River, residents are calling on authorities to revise their crime-fighting plans. According to locals, the situation has become dire, with residents and officers caught in the crossfire of the conflict.
On the evening of 6 March, members of the SAPS Anti-Gang Unit, Elsies River Crime Prevention Unit, as well as Metro Police were caught in a shootout between rival gang members while responding to a shooting in Leonsdale.
“Some of the suspects started shooting at the police members who had to retaliate. One of the suspects sustained a bullet wound in the left foot but it was unclear whether he was shot by the rival group or police members,” explained Anelisiwe Manyana, Western Cape police spokesperson.
Manyana said that the wounded suspect was found with ammunition and was arrested for the illegal possession thereof, as well as attempted murder.
Officers were then called out to Leeusig Court, where they were informed of a firearm being kept. During their search of a premises there, gunshots rang out.
Ruth Solomons, spokesperson of the Cape Town Metro Police Department, said it was at that time that one of their own was shot.
“A group of community members became unruly and started throwing stones at the officers. Someone then opened fire on the officers, hitting one of them in the leg,” said Solomons.
Manyana said a young boy, who was playing in the area, was also injured in this incident.
No arrests have been made in connection with the shooting, but Solomons said a case of attempted murder is being investigated by Elsies River police.
Manyana further noted that a Z88 firearm, with its serial number filed off, and ammunition, was recovered during preceding search efforts.
“Further investigations indicated that the firearm was reported as stolen at Manenberg SAPS.”
Community reaction
The Elsies River Safety Initiative has condemned the rising violence. Spokesperson, Imraahn Mukaddam, said these incidents reflect the authorities’ ineffective approach to crime-fighting. Further to this, Mukaddam said local law enforcement officers are braving high-risk areas with insufficient protection, subsequently putting their own lives at risk.
He also pinned rising gang and gun violence on the failures of the justice system.
“The justice system’s ineffectiveness in addressing this crisis is concerning. The lack of accountability and consequences for perpetrators has created a culture of impunity,” said Mukaddam.
Mukaddam said these incidents are having a knock-on effect on the delivery of basic services and is, as such, affecting the livelihood of locals. He called on the SAPS, the City of Cape Town and other relevant stakeholders to develop a comprehensive and coordinated response to address the root causes of this crisis.
“We urge authorities to acknowledge the severity of the crisis and take immediate, drastic action. The deployment of additional resources, including the army, is necessary to address the proliferation of guns and gang violence.”
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