Belhar: 'We are tired of the bloodshed

GATVOL Belhar residents believe that police are losing the fight against gun violence after a bloody Monday on the Cape Flats.

Crime groups were updated throughout the day with shots being fired in Hanover Park, Philippi, Ottery, Bonteheuwel, Elsies River and Facreton to name a few areas.

In Manenberg,  a 36-year-old man, allegedly affiliated to the Hard Livings gang, was gunned down in Letaba Street.

And innie Bo-Kaap, a 22-year-old man was shot dead in broad daylight at a block of flats on Astana Street.

While the Patriotic Alliance staged “Coloured Lives Matter” protests around the city, Belhar residents made their stemme dik to join the call for the deployment of the South African National Defense Force to help police on the Cape Flats.

Gershwin Cloete, a community leader in Belhar, explained: “We need the SANDF to stabilise the communities.

“You cannot have almost 200 people gunned down in mass shootings at once. 

“We see that SAPS cannot handle the capacity to enforce the law to stabilise the communities so they need more assistance, even our Law Enforcement can't do much.

“We are now tired because people are being shot dead everyday. 

“We know that with the SANDF it will not be a permanent thing, but at least something will be done because we are being failed at national level.

“Our voices need to be heard, the people are not feeling safe especially in our predominantly coloured areas where the mass shootings are taking place.”

Meanwhile, Western Cape Minister for Police Oversight and Community Safety Anroux Marais is opposed to the deployment of the SANDF.

She told the Daily Voice: "While I acknowledge that SAPS is indeed under-resourced, I do not believe that deploying the SANDF in the Western Cape will resolve the deeply rooted issue of gangsterism and killings that continues to plague our communities.

"SANDF soldiers are trained for combat and not for civil law enforcement or community policing. They do not possess the specialised skills required to carry out policing functions, and their involvement may lead to a disproportionate use of force when interacting with civilians.

"Such an approach risks further damaging the already fragile trust between government and communities. If innocent people are harmed during operations and the harm is perceived as caused by “the government,” it could deepen the divide and undermine future cooperation.

"What I can say is that SAPS, together with other law enforcement partners such as the Cape Town Metro Police and the Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) officers, have intensified targeted operations against criminal gangs.

"These efforts have led to the confiscation of significant quantities of illegal firearms and ammunition. The problem remains large and deeply troubling, but all spheres of government are actively working together to confront it.

"I am encouraged by the undertaking of the Acting Minister of Police, Prof. Cachalia, who has expressed a commitment to working closely with the Western Cape Government and the people of the province to address the systemic and deeply entrenched issue of gangsterism.

"With strengthened collaboration, improved resourcing, and community partnership, sustainable progress is possible."