Gatvol residents of Bonteheuwel and Bishop Lavis protested in front of the Bishop Lavis SAPS for about three hours on Thursday, demanding better policing.
This follows the death of two children in the area, which the community says could have been prevented with greater police visibility.
The group of about 50 protesters from the Bonteheuwel Joint Peace Forum, religious leaders and community members from the Bishop Lavis Police precinct held placards reading “Bonteheuwel in mourning”, “A safer Bishop Lavis” and “We want peace”.
The group, which demonstrated peacefully outside the station’s entrance, demanded: the permanent deployment of the tactical response team in the Bishop Lavis precinct; the re-allocation of police to crime hot spots; that Bonteheuwel have its own police station; the immediate eviction of gang leaders and drug lords; the immediate arrest of all gang members; an integrated Community Safety Plan which is monitored by communities, and a Mass Public Works Programme at a living wage.
MESSAGE: About 50 mense at the cop shop
Speaking on behalf of the community, Nadia Mayman said she was angry that despite the national police minister’s recent visit, there was not enough help for Bishop Lavis SAPS.
She said: “We see the difference lately with the Anti-Gang Unit. Arrests are made, the children’s killers were quickly arrested.
“We know Bishop Lavis SAPS are doing all they can, but they are not enough. They cannot serve Valhalla Park, Bonteheuwel, Bishop Lavis, Netreg and Kalksteenfontein. The area is too huge.
“We have now spoken about this and protested till we are blue, but we are still being ignored.
“We need a base camp in Bonteheuwel. We want our problems with the gangs and drugs removed, not made less. We want them out.
“This is why we need Mayor Dan Plato, JP Smith, Major-General [Khombinkosi] Jula, MEC for Safety and Security Alan Winde and Social development MEC Albert Fritz to come and together meet us in the streets. We are giving them 48 hours to do so or we will come back stronger.”
Video: Saafia February/Daily Voice
Pastor Graham Siebritz from Bishop Lavis said: “We can’t be silent when the innocent are dying or getting hurt. We must stand up against the evils and can only do so if we are supported by government.”
None of the leaders requested were available on Thursday, but Nyanga Cluster commander, Major- General Sizakhele Dyantyi, came to accept the memorandum.
“I accept the memorandum and will forward it to all the relevant partners for the matter to be escalated to the correct people,” Dyantyi said.
saafia.february@inl.co.za