Hanover Park residents are taking back gang battlefields and turning them into venues for sports tournaments.
On Saturday more than 300 people descended on a veldjie between Lonedown and Downberg roads where they hosted netball and soccer matches.
The event, organised by the Hanover Park Action Forum, was the brainchild of community worker, Denver Andrews, who says they have been working hard for nearly two months to ensure the event was a success.
“In the weekly meetings, we discussed the field and the problems with the Ghetto Kidz and the Americans using it as a battlefield for gunfights almost every day,” he says.
“We decided that we would host a sports day at that field, so for one day people who live in the gang turfs can freely walk in the rival turf without the fear of being shot.
“One of the women, Gladys Jones, gathered children on Friday and they cleaned up the netball pitches and prepared them for the next day.”
MEDAL POWER: Hanover Park residents held a lekker sports day on gang war zone
The forum approached the Department of Cultural Affairs, who assisted by providing food packs, trophies and medals for all the participants.
Forum member, Nasief Tape, says the Anti-Gang Unit (AGU) along with cluster police, showed their support by keeping residents safe and keeping skollies away.
“They really came and showed their support with patrols and some of the officers also came to cheer for the teams,” he says.
“We had a netball and five-a-side soccer tournaments in which more than 200 children participated.
“We approached the sports clubs and they all agreed to participate in the friendly tournaments. Gift of the Givers also supported the event by providing water.”
Various community organisations, including the community police forum and neighbourhood watches, pitched in to ensure a fun-filled day for all.
Denver explains: “We had chess and face-painting and the Somali shop owners even donated party packets for the children.
“Everyone had fun for one day and enjoyed walking freely. Not one shot went off in Hanover Park on the day.”
He says following the success of the sports day, the forum has decided to host similar events on other problematic open spaces.
“The aim is to keep the initiative going by moving around at the various hotspots in Hanover Park where open spaces are being used for gang fights.
“We haven’t decided where the next one will be, but we have discussed the option of the field on Ryston Road, which is between the Americans’ and Laughing Boys’ turf.”
MEDAL POWER: Hanover Park residents held a lekker sports day on gang war zone.