Hanover Park residents: 'Stop the gunshots'
BLOODSHED: Three people were shot - two fatally - in Hanover Park over the weekend. Photo: Leon Knipe BLOODSHED: Three people were shot - two fatally - in Hanover Park over the weekend. Photo: Leon Knipe
This comes after two more men were murdered in the area over the weekend.
Residents want police to take action against brazen skollies who wage gunfights in broad daylight.
Led by the Hanover Park Civic Association (HPCA), various community organisations walked with placards and peacefully marched from Freedom Square to the cop shop.
In the latest incidents of violence, three people, including a couple, were shot in two separate incidents in the area over the weekend.
Police spokesperson Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana confirms both incidents and that cases of murder and attempted murder have been opened for investigation by Philippi police.
In the first incident on Friday, shortly after 5pm, a couple was attacked in their home in Lanspoort Road.
“A 45-year-old man was shot and fatally wounded while a woman was shot and wounded,” Rwexana says.
“In the second incident on Saturday, a murder case was opened for investigation after a 25-year-old was shot in the head. Circumstances surrounding this incident are under investigation. No one has been arrested at this stage.
Yesterday, the area was declared a “red zone” and non-residents were cautioned to avoid it.
Hanover Park Ward Councillor, Antonio van der Rheede, and his neighbouring councillor, Aslam Cassiem, were also part of the march on Saturday.
Chairperson for the HPCA, Igshaan Nazier, said he was “pleasantly surprised” that the police decided to escort the group.
“We walked in all the streets where innocent people are killed regularly, Surren Road and through St Lucia Court. We went to the Nazerene Church and delivered a wreath for the funeral of murdered Octavia Johanessen, who was shot at the tuckshop near Howick Court on 14 August,” says Nazier.
According to the residents, the aim of this march was to remind the police, CPF and Community Safety MEC Dan Plato of their responsibility to “the innocent” of Hanover Park.
Marcher Claudia Davids, 41, said she was tired of dodging bullets and keeping her children indoors.
“We are not animals and we are nobody’s slaves. We deserve to be protected by the police. They need to ensure that we can walk the streets,” said the mom.
Residents are also calling for an independent investigation into dockets relating to gang violence, a strategic plan to create a safer community, with community input, and the re-election of the Community Policing Forum (CPF).
The memorandum was handed over to the station commander at Philippi police station and the protesters are giving police seven days to respond.
Nazier adds: “We will come back because we want a safer community and the police have an obligation to ensure this happens.”