Angry Hanover Park residents are planning to shut down the area on Wednesday to protest against the ongoing gang war and perceived lack of police intervention.
Organiser Mansoer Arendse says shortly after 6am on Wednesday, hundreds of residents and children plan to shut all the entrances to the Cape Flats suburb using taxis to show police minister Bheki Cele they are gatvol of empty promises.
Arendse says a huge spike in shootings has residents fearing for their lives and he says despite the launch of the Anti-Gang Unit, gangs continue to shoot using “high calibre weapons”.
“We are living here for many years and the guns they are using now we have not seen before. So myself and a few friends came together and organised the shut down. We also spoke to the taxi drivers who are also gatvol and they have agreed to not ride on the day and will help us close the roads. Bheki Cele promised to put a chokehold on the gangsters but it looks like it is on us, they even shot six of his members,” says Arendse.
He says protesters will allow emergency vehicles and staff at the Day Hospital to enter.
He confirms they have not applied for a permit to close the roads but says they do not fear being arrested or retaliation from gangsters.
“We want to get the attention of the authorities so they can do something.”
Community Police Forum (CPF) chairperson Ebrahiem Abrahams says they are not involved in the protest but understand the frustrations of the residents.