On Sunday, 5000 gatvol residents of Ocean View united and marched to the houses of several drug merchants in the area, demanding they stop their criminal ways.
The residents, who brought the area to a standstill, say the drug trade is stoking violence and crime in the area.
Mense, young and old, were carrying placards, with some reading “we had enough” and “enough is enough”.
A resident, who asked not to be named, says they will no longer suffer at the hands of drug dealers and gangsters.
“ Nou het ons net blerrie genoeg gehad. We’re sick of having these scum and vuil gemorste dictate how we must live our lives.
“Our children can barely play outside and we have to offer up their freedom for this goed? Nee dankie,” the resident says.
In a video of the protest, thousands of residents can be seen descending on the house of an alleged mert, shouting for him to stop, for him to come out and explain why he is destroying the lives of their children, but he did not respond.
Residents protesting against merts. Video supplied
The Public Relations Councillor in Ocean View, Patricia Francke, says they’re proud of the turnout.
“I am so thankful to everyone who came out, residents, people from neighbouring communities, our interfaith leaders,” Francke says.
“This is a challenge for us with innocent people dying and people being too scared to go to the shops, churches having to stop evening services, but we have a plan.
“We will keep on going and there is still more to come.”
robin.francke@inl.co.za