Hundreds of Hanover Park residents braved the cold and took to the streets on Wednesday to demand an end to ongoing gang violence and called on national Police Minister Bheki Cele to take action.
Gatvol parents and children have given Cele SEVEN days to fulfill his promise to “choke” skollies or they have threatened to take to the streets every day until progress is made.
But Shareef Edwards, spokesperson for the Hanover Park taxi associations operating from the taxi terminal, says while they support the plight of residents they were upset they were not consulted.
“The taxis were affected by the shut down, but we have asked that if they don’t get a response we can have a meeting with the community the next time they close the roads,” he said.
Shortly after 6am residents gathered at various intersections using tyres and bricks to block roads, diverting traffic to other areas.
Mense are fed-up with living in fear in their community.
Picture: Monique Duval
Convenor, Mansoer Arendse says residents are gatvol of the continuous gunfire where mense fear leaving their homes as gangsters fought daily.
He says angry residents believe the launch of the Anti-Gang Unit (AGU) in Hanover Park by President Cyril Ramaphosa last year was nothing but a political ploy to get votes ahead of the elections.
“They came here with fancy BMWs for the AGU. The manne were jumping out of helicopters and all that k@k, but we did not see any change in Hanover Park.
“Cele told us that they are going to choke the gangsters, but it only went quiet for about three weeks,” he says.
Hanover Park residents taking back their streets.
Video: Monique Duval
Mom Nazeema Samuels rekked her bek about the presence of SAPS, Metro Police, Law Enforcement and Traffic Police who came out to control the protest, saying none of them were around when gangsters open fire.
“Kyk hoe staan die police vans nou, but where are they when the gangsters are shooting? Jy moet van jou kooi af spring in die nag as die mense gun skiet,” she said.
Nazeema Samuels rekked her bek about the presence of SAPS. Video: Monique Duval
Shortly before 11am protesters walked towards Freedom Square where they read out a memorandum and asked Philippi Police Station commander, Colonel Dennis Abels, to sign and accept it on behalf of Cele.
Police spokesperson, Captain FC van Wyk, says no incidents of violence were reported except where a woman refused to let a vehicle pass after a request from the overall commander.
“After addressing the community, a memorandum of demands was handed over to the station commander of Philippi SAPS, which will be escalated to the next level,” Van Wyk said.
Cops turned out in force to monitor the Hanover Park protest. Picture: Monique Duval
He said police have registered a case of Contraventions of the Regulations of Gathering Act for failing to give notice for a gathering or march.
“No damages were reported during the shutdown [and] no arrests [were] made.”
Arendse says they are waiting for a response from Cele, but warns if their concerns are not addressed residents will take to the streets again.
Hanover Park residents demand an end to ongoing gang violence.
Picture: Monique Duval
