A man was shot and killed by skollies while Community Safety MEC Dan Plato was addressing a public meeting about gang violence in Lavender Hill on Friday.
At the meeting held at the Steenberg Mosque, gatvol residents called for a commission of inquiry into the shootings in the area.
MEETING: Dan Plato talks to the community. Photo: Supplied
Community Policing Forum (CPF) chairperson, Gavin Walbrugh, says the man was killed and two others injured in a drive-by shooting in Epsten Road.
Walbrugh says the gunmen were on bicycles, while the victims were sitting in a stationary car.
“Four people in a white Toyota were shot at in Epsten Road. A 30-year-old man died after he was shot multiple times, another man was shot in the neck, a female was shot in the stomach and one person was unharmed,” Walbrugh said.
According to a resident, the dead man was a father of two and a mechanic.
“He was gunned down because he lived in the Junky Funky Kidz (JFK) territory in St. Montague Village. He was apparently shot by JFKs from Lavender Hill. The gang is fighting over drug turf.”
Walbrugh says anti-crime marches took place on Saturday, but few community members pitched up.
“If people are serious about the problem with gangsterism and drugs, they need to come out in their numbers,” Walbrugh says.
Another resident says a temporary SAPS base camp, to help curb gang violence, has had little impact.
“We need this inquiry. The [police] base that was placed here is of no use to us. Our people are dying like flies at the hands of these
trigger-happy fools.”
Plato says policing was a matter for SAPS and not local government.
“I met with the community leaders and they told me the police seem to be scared of the gangsters who walk past carrying guns brazenly.
“They asked what the purpose is of having the police here if they are not able to control the violence. Similar base camps set up in areas such as Philippi and Ravens-
mead have reduced crime. I have spoken to the head of the police and we agreed to urgently address it,” Plato said.
Walbrugh says the CPF was not invited to the meeting on Friday.
He says residents should start piemping skollies if they want to see a reduction in crime.
“It’s the first time I hear about the meeting. We were not invited.
“People need to stop harbouring perpetrators. Nobody ever sees what happened at the crime scene.
“Shooters are released because there is never enough evidence. People can even give their statements to CPF and their identities can be withheld,” he added.