[WATCH] Standing up to gangs: Heideveld residents march on merts

Thousands of gatvol residents took to the streets of Heideveld on Sunday to demand gangsters put an end to the bloodshed.

The event hosted by the Heideveld Development Forum, the Manenberg Community Police Forum and police saw the angry community gather at the strongholds of various gangs as they confronted drug merchants and gang bosses.

CPF chair Vernon Visagie says this follows months of ongoing shootings between three major gangs over turf fights.

Last year, Manenberg police warned that the gang war broke out after members of the Fancy Boys gang muscled in on the drug turf of the Americans and Bad Boy gangs, sparking revenge attacks.

During this time, it was also reported that young men who refused to join the Fancy Boys gang were raped, and in one case a victim was forcefully tattooed with a gang tjappie.

“The idea was to have prayer interventions at the gang hotspots in Allison, Susan and Hester courts but the community decided to march on the gang houses and confront them,” says Visagie.

“In some cases, the gangs came out and admitted that they were part of it, and in other cases they were scared and refused.”

Deputy chairperson, Vanessa Adriaanse, says residents made placards and wore white as they demanded peace in the Cape Flats community.

“The community stood up and told the gangs that we will not allow them to take over like this,” says Adriaanse.

“We are not negotiating with any gang or taking the side of any gang, we want them to stop.

“The feeling in the community is that if they don’t stop and there is no police intervention, then the community will take it on themselves.

“The people are tired of living in fear and are beyond gatvol.”

At the home of a drug mert in Allison Court, community leader Vanessa Sauls confronted a mert.

“Die k** wat hier aangaan must come to an end,” she was heard saying on a video.

“If you cannot take responsibility for your children, I am going to step in. I will make sure Child Welfare steps in and I am telling it to your face and your wife’s face.

“You’re selling drugs. This house has been reported over and over as a pella pos. Die neighbours kan nie slaap nie. As community workers, ons gaan die sirkel vir julle klein maak.”

Visible police commander, Colonel Sedick Hermanus, says when confronted, skollies started pointing fingers at each other.

He added that the police are applauding the community’s efforts.

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