The teenage Gift of the Givers volunteer, who was killed in a gang shooting over the weekend, has been laid to rest, as a new gang unit hit the streets of Hanover Park.
Hundreds of residents gathered at the home of Ameerodien Noordien, 19, on Tuesday to say their final farewells after his janaazah was postponed on Monday.
While Ameerodien’s family prepared his body for burial, a large contingent of cops took to the streets, targeting skollies and drug merchants in stops and searches.
This follows a promise made by Police Minister Bheki Cele on Monday, that more cops would be deployed in the area to crack down on gang activity.
Standing in Columbine Place on Tuesday, residents said they were still hartseer and traumatised after watching the teen die in his father’s arms on Friday night.
Video: Monique Duval
Ameerodien was hit multiple times during a shooting at a shop in Surwood Walk which also left three others injured.
His uncle, Riedwaan Abrahams, 45, says the family is coping well under the circumstances.
“As you know his mother, Fatiema, is not well and through all of this we must still get her to the hospital every day for dialysis.
“We are overwhelmed by the support, but we will feel much better when he is buried and can rest.”
REST: Ameerodien Noordien
Ali Sablay, of Gift of the Givers, says he received early morning calls from relieved residents who reported that heavily armed police had hit the streets.
“One of the women called me to say that the minister kept to his word and that cops with rifles were doing foot patrols in the streets and they did not have to worry about the safety of their children on the first day of the new term of school,” he says.
Sablay adds: “We are planning to create a fund to help the Ameerodien’s mother and sister.
“The funds from the farmers will be used to help with the mother’s medical needs and a fund for his sister’s future education.”
VOW: Hanover Park residents were relieved to see cops patrolling streets
Community Police Forum (CPF) chairperson, Ebrahiem Abrahams, says while the community welcomed the additional forces in the area, questions remained over why crime fighters had not been informed or included in meetings.
“The minister says he does not want politics involved, but he came here with all the ANC people,” says Abrahams.
“The CPF, which is a legislated body, was never consulted or informed, so we are not sure how this new unit will work or what the reporting mechanisms are.
PEACE OF MIND: Minister Cele's Anti-Gang Unit executing stops and searches
“We do, however, welcome the extra manpower and forces in Hanover Park.”
Ameerodien was laid to rest at Johnston Road Cemetery late on Tuesday afternoon.