The community of Uitsig breathed a sigh of relief as peace descended on the gang-ridden area at the weekend as people celebrated Youth Day.
Community leader, Pastor Adam Alexander, said he was pleased with the outcome of the various activities that were hosted all over the area which included prayer meetings, dancing, art classes, kiddies games and a feeding scheme for over 200 underprivileged families.
The celebration, which took place on Monday, was also in commemoration of youth who have died in gang violence that has become part of everyday life on the Cape Flats.
One of the most recent deaths was that of 12-year-old Aswin Jonas who was brutally shot and killed in what was believed to be a gang initiation two weeks ago.
KILLED: Aswin Jonas
The innocent boy, who was looking after cars outside a mosque, was chased by two men who gunned him down in front of the mosque “until their guns were empty”.
Nobody has been arrested for his murder yet.
Pastor Alexander, who led the prayer service on the sports field, says Uitsig residents have been left traumatised by all the violence in their community and deserved a day of peace and quiet and “feeling like normal people again”.
“This was a quiet time in the area and all we heard was laughter, music, fun and happiness as we gathered to celebrate the lives of our youth,” he says.
“This is what Uitsig is. It is a place of life and we call on our community, our parents and religious leaders to take the reins. We can give children a reason to celebrate every day.”