Communities terrorised by ongoing gang violence have taken to the streets to put an end to the killings.
Last Tuesday, five innocent people were shot, four of them killed, after two men opened fire at them on Umvoti Road in Leiden, Delft.
Genesis Williams, a Grade 7 pupil at JS Kloppers Primary School, and her dad Cavin, 39, as well as couple Carlo Gesie, 30, and Michelle Valentine, 22, died while Lizette Hoorn, 33, a mom of seven, was hit in the buttocks.
They were all at a local house shop when two skollies shot them.
Resident Roewayda Alwie says on Saturday they had planned to march to the police station to seek assistance with the gang shootings but their plans changed.
Instead, about 70 residents armed with candles and balloons with victims’ names on them went to support families who lost loved ones.
“There was a problem with the application with the march and we instead went to the victims’ families and held prayers showing the families that we are in mourning with them,” said Roewayda.
“And then we went to the crime scene and also prayed, lit candles and released the balloons. We put the victims’ pictures on the stoep of the shop, this was all done in memory of them and it was a symbol of the love we had for them.”
Meanwhile on Thursday, Ottery residents pleaded with suspected merchants to help stop the gang killings after two fathers were shot and killed last week.
Community leader Chantal Mussell says they went to the home of dad John “Billy” Timothy who was killed on Tuesday in Hector Avenue.
The grandfather tried to run away from a gangster who had pulled out a gun and opened fire.
Chantal says they also went to 23-year-old Tyron Hope’s family in Frank Way.
He was gunned down after he pushed his mom and four-month-old daughter to safety.
“We stopped by the suspected merchant’s houses, where we think the weapons are kept.
“We also went to a Mongrels leader’s home and then on the battlefield where the shooting happens, where it separates the A and B side.
“It was a prayer walk, we prayed with the families to show our condolences and that we have had enough of these gang fights.
“We hope for peace and that we have been heard.”
Police say no arrests have been made in any of the murders.
mandilakhe.tshwete@inl.co.za