A gang war which has left several people dead in two months has forced Hanover Park residents to call on Pagad G-Force to stand with them as they marched for peace.
The G-Force showed up with keffiyehs covering their faces, armed with a banner which read: “We face what you fear.”
Moulana Toha Rodriguez, who was one of the organisers, says the recent shooting of 17-year-old Zubaira Hendricks, who was killed while saying goodbye to his mom as she went to work, is the reason they decided to demonstrate their anger about gangsterism.
“Over the period of two months, more than 21 people have been killed in Hanover Park and four of them were innocent.
“The blood of the innocent is overflowing in our community. We are at a stage where we don’t request peace from these gang leaders, we demand it because we want our children and parents to move around peacefully,” Rodriguez says.
He adds that the gang war has opened the door for other criminal activities.
“There have been four cases of attempted kidnappings in the area. Children aren’t safe anymore and all our energies are focused on these gangsters.”
About 400 people marched to the hotspots in the area chanting: “One bullet, one gangster! One merchant, one bullet!”
Pagad G-Force’s Moulana Moegsien Barendse says they were invited to rid the street of drugs and gangsters.
“We need everyone to help and if you see something wrong, you must fix it with your hand or you speak out against it and that is the reason we accepted the invitation.”
Resident Nabeelah Loedewyk says she is gatvol of being trapped at home.
“The bullets are always flying and I can’t even go to fetch my medication from the day hospital. We want to take back our streets,” she says.