Following the murder of seven people in just nine days, the community of Manenberg on Sunday marched to reclaim their streets from skollies.
In a show of strength, residents walked through the streets led by community activist and crime fighter, Hanif Loonat, members of the Community Policing Forum and police.
The latest killing occurred on Sunday when a man was shot and killed along Duinefontein Road.
Loonat says the community needs to become the ears and eyes for cops
as they are present when an
incident happens.
“The communities need to become active as the police are reactive. The community needs to take back the streets,” he says.
“They need to become united as a community and form their neighbourhood watches and committees.
SAFETY: CPF, cops stap saam
“They know who holds the guns. We know their trust has been lost in police.
“Even on Sunday while we carried out the meeting and walk, there was a death in Duinefontein Road.”
Loonat says the peace walks will continue this week together with cops and the CPF.
Resident Shamiela Edwards says they want to stop crimes before it happens: “We had meetings with the police, neighbourhood watch and CPF.
“We had nearly 10 code blues in seven days and we are not going to allow gangsters that came out of jail to kill our innocent children.
“We will be carrying out walks each day this week from 7.30pm which will be done via candlelight.”
genevieve.serra@inl.co.za