CoCT offers R100k reward for teen killers as Elsies River community demands action against gangsterism

Elsies River

Cape Town — The Community of Elsies River in Cape Town are upset with SAPS, local police and Community Police Forums (CPFs) in the area following the tragic death of a 14-year-old boy.

Jahmiel van Reenen was shot and killed on Tuesday morning in what was believed to be a gang-related incident. Another two teens and a 55-year-old was shot and injured in the incident that caused outrage in the community as many school children were affected.

Police said murder and attempted murder dockets have been opened. A manhunt has since been launched for the perpetrators of the act and the motive for the shooting is currently part of the ongoing investigations.

According to EWN, more than 200 residents gathered at the Kunjalo Fellowship Church in Elsies River to discuss solutions to the ongoing gang-related problems in the area, and many of the residents placed the blame on the divisions between SAPS and CPF in the community with some saying SAPS and CPF officers are colluding with criminals

“t 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.” community leader, Manny Niekerk, said.

Another youth activist, Angelo Phillips, said the lack of youth developmental initiatives are a contributing factor to crime and drug use, and the problem stems from the area in which they live, citing 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,” he said.

According to IOL, the City of Cape Town offiered a reward to anyone who can find the person responsible for Jahmiel’s death. Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, said they had visited the family to send condolences,

He said the young boy was not involved with gangs and had no interest in doing so. He was a carefree boy who had just started high school.

“He had great aspirations and had his whole life before him. In an instant, his life was ended. He was not caught in the crossfire. He was purposefully targeted,” Smith said.

He said this crime cannot be allowed and said a reward is being offered. He said SAPS are stretched thin in dealing with gang violence and the internal investigative resources are now made available to track down the killer.

“More than this, we are offering a reward of up to R100 000, for any information that will lead to the arrest and prosecution of those responsible. We cannot bring back the life of Grantham, or any of those victims that have lost their lives through the hands of gangs, but we must make sure those responsible are brought to justice,” Smith said.

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Compiled by Matthew Petersen

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