The Department of Community Safety is now offering cash rewards to anyone who piemps gang shooters.
On Thursday, Community Safety MEC Albert Fritz announced that residents will be paid up to R5 000 for information which leads to the arrest and successful conviction of perpetrators of gang-related murders.
Fritz said the information will be handled with the strictest confidentiality.
“The time for us to come together as society is now. We need to fight this scourge of gangsterism and violence together. I appeal to anybody with information to please come forward,” Fritz said.
25 people were gunned down across the city this week in addition to three fatal stabbings.
They include four people who died in a shooting in Delft on Wednesday, and 16-year old Riedewaan Boltman, 16, who was shot dead in Rolbal Street, Beacon Valley, on Sunday.
His death came months after five teenagers were shot in a drive-by shooting in the same area.
“I condemn these killings, especially those of children by gangsters, in the strongest possible terms.
“We know that gangsters use children to do much of their work, and this must stop,” Fritz said.
He said a joint workshop was hosted by his department and SAPS, with senior representatives from the army, the NPA, Metro Police, Law Enforcement, Department of Correctional services and others on Tuesday to discuss the provincial response to the national anti-gang strategy.
“The workshop supported an integrated response involving key stakeholders, including civil society and the business sector.
“The approach aims to deal with gangsterism through effective criminal justice and law enforcement, as well as focusing on community upliftment, social cohesion, urban and environmental planning and design.”
Steenberg CPF chairman, Gavin Walbrugh, has welcomed Fritz’s announcement and says: “We will embrace this and hopefully the community will also take the advantage of the opportunity, not just for the money, but eradicating crime and bringing peace to our communities.
“Many people do not bother about these incidents unless one of their own is involved. Also people in these areas are scared to talk because these gang members are also one of us, known in the area.”
Pastor Charles George, Delft CPF chairman, said: “As the Delft CPF we don't want to be involved in the processes the government has initiated, the reason being that our residents will drag us into the payout processes that we have no control over.”
To report information, contact the Department of Community Safety on 021 483 5220 or email [email protected].