Cape Town — Police Minister, Bheki Cele, attended an Imbizo in Hanover Park in Cape Town to address residents concerns over the rising rate of crime and gang violence in the area.
Hanover Park is a gang-ridden area situated on the Cape Flats in Cape Town and Cele said police were working from post to pillar to investigate gang-related incidents in the area, and said criminals were being protected by friends an family in the area, EWN reported.
“When you start that game, everybody can hide the gun. So, we are calling on you mothers… don’t protect your criminal children because you know them. Where are the parents to take the children to school? Why is it a government issue? Where is the parent to take the nine year-old to school? Why should it be a government issue?” he said.
Cele added that police have made many successful arrests of prominent gang leaders in the province but nobody praises or claps for the police for that work done.
[WATCH] Police Minister Bheki Cele tells Hanover Park residents that SAPS has made several successes in tracking down gang leaders on the Cape Flats. pic.twitter.com/wrAJnN2Rd9
— Rasaad Adams (@RasaadAdams) April 14, 2024
A host of residents in the community attended the Imbizo and were given an opportunity to air their grievances with Cele and the South Africa Police Services (SAPS) including a local pastor, who questioned why police weren’t out in the streets searching for criminals instead of gathering in a hall, while another resident complained of SAPS’ slow response to incidents in the area, waiting up to 3 hours for police or ambulance assistance.
MP on Community Safety, Faiez Jacobs, called on communities to combat crime in the streets.
“We must empower the community of Hanover Park and all communities on the Cape Flats to take the power that they have and mobilise in all aspects of community life be that safety and security, education, sports and recreation, sanitation and other aspects of service delivery.” he said.
“Fighting crime is a collective effort and unless we work together we will not be able to overcome crime and the gangsters will continue to run amok in our communities, kill our children and create chaos in our communities.” he added.
Media Statement by Faiez Jacobs, MP on Community Safety Imbizo, held in Hanover Park, on Sunday 14th April 2024
We call on communities and community structures to take back their streets and communities from the gangs and organised crime.
We must empower the community of… pic.twitter.com/9xqcFtvFf4
— MP Faiez Jacobs 🇿🇦 (@Faiezj) April 14, 2024
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
