‘PAGAD, KOM HELP’ - ‘Gatvol’ Kensington mense to call on group to help combat gangsterism

A GANG-RELATED shooting at Maitland Cemetery has triggered calls from the community for the help of People Against Gangsterism And Drugs (Pagad). 

This comes after a deadly shooting in the early hours of Tuesday morning at the begraafplaas claimed two lives and left two men injured.

The shooting took place around 3am, with two men - aged 35 and 36 - shot dead, while another two aged 31 and 32 were wounded and taken to a medical facility for treatment.

The incident is believed to be gang-related amid an ongoing fight between rival gangs in the community of Kensington.

Police spokesperson Colonel Andre Traut said that detectives are searching for clues on the attack.

Traut reported: “At about 2.55pm, police responded to a shooting at the Maitland cemetery in Voortrekker Road, Kensington. Four males were found with gunshot wounds.

“Two men, aged 35 and 36, were declared deceased on the scene, while two others, aged 31 and 32, were transported to a medical facility for treatment. 

“The motive for this attack is believed to be gang-related. Anti-Gang Unit detectives are investigating two counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder. No arrests have yet been effected.”

Local ward councillor Cheslyn Steenberg, who has been trying to bring warring gangs to the table for peace talks, said that he is exploring all avenues to put an end to the gun violence in the community.

Steenberg said: “I support the call for a provincial state of disaster to be declared for the gang violence that we are seeing.

“We are going to call in Pagad, there is no two ways about it. We had a community meeting and the residents were clear on their position against the gang violence. 

“We have given these gangs enough warnings so now we are going into further action by calling in Pagad and taking it up with the premier and the president, we need the political support of all spheres of government.

“Information came through on Sunday and said that a Quantum taxi just dropped off a group of shooters for a particular gang. They are operating like a military on its own.

“Ons is nou gatvol. Our lives are at risk, you are not even safe in your house. The guns that they are using to shoot are not your normal guns, it’s Uzis and semi-automatics. Where do they get these guns from? 

“Government is playing with our people's lives, we need them to intervene because our people's blood is flowing in the street.”