Religious leaders and their congregants have taken to the streets of Manenberg after another two innocent people, including a 16-year-old girl, were shot in ongoing gang fights over the weekend.
A man, who was wounded, now has to live with a bullet in his body or risk being paralysed if doctors remove it.
Shortly after Jumu’ah prayers on Friday, more than 300 congregants from various mosques in Manenberg formed a human chain along Duinefontein Road to make their voices heard.
The event, arranged by the Take Back Our Streets campaign, was aimed at uniting residents against skollies and to bring an end to the bloodshed which has resulted in the death of pregnant Tazneem Simons, 22.
Co-ordinator Abdul-
Karriem Adams says residents are scared as there seems to be no end in sight to the bitter turf war between two rival gangs.
Abdul- Karriem Adams says residents are scared as there seems to be no end in sight. Picture: Monique Duval
“We mobilised the churches and mosques and on Friday more than 300 people came out after Jumu’ah for the human chain,” he says.
“The churches gathered on Duinefontein [Road on Sunday] and some hosted human chains before their [church] service and others after.
“We are very worried about the shootings and all the innocent people who are being hit.
“Recently we had those three young boys and this weekend again two innocent people were hit by bullets.”
Manenberg residents formed a human chain along Duinefontein Road. Picture: Monique Duval
On Friday, a 24-year-old construction worker was walking home when skollies opened fire in Letaba Road and he was hit in the leg shortly after 4pm.
The victim, who asked not to named, says he thought a brick had hit him and only later realised he had been shot.
“It got me in the back of my leg and when I went to Heideveld [Emergency Centre] they saw there was no exit wound and did an X-ray and found the bullet is still inside. They told me it was still inside, but they said I could risk paralysis if they take it out.”
On Saturday, a Grade 10 pupil from Phoenix High School was shot while walking to a shop in Jordaan Street.
The scared girl says she went to buy hot chips at MC Stores when skollies opened fire.
“I was coming out and they were shooting and I ran back in but I felt something burning, then I saw they shot me and I passed out.”
The girl was rushed to hospital where doctors confirmed that the bullet was still inside her body.
Police spokesperson, Lieutenant-Colonel Andrè Traut, says no arrests have been made yet.
Adams says residents also occupied Tornado Park on Sunday for a mass thikr and are now lobbying for a mass march.
Dirk Bock says they have seen a drop in church attendance as a result of the shootings. Picture: Monique Duval
Dirk Bock of the Pinkster Protestant Church says they have seen a drop in church attendance as a result of the shootings.
“People are scared because of all the innocent bystanders being hurt. We are joining the fight to stand together against this,” he says.