Manenberg police were forced to fire rubber bullets at residents over the weekend after coming under attack by an angry mob while trying to arrest a skollie with drugs.
Acting station commander, Colonel Sanele Zama, says he is disappointed at the incident which saw police vehicles being stoned as residents allegedly tried to protect a Fancy Boys gang member during drug operations on Thursday night.
He says the Crime Prevention Unit embarked on a spate of raids at well-known drug houses across the precinct, aimed at removing drugs from the streets ahead of the long weekend.
In the first search in Storms River Way, cops arrested a 35-year-old man who was found in possession of 32 tik straws and 21 half mandrax tablets.
TENSE: The 35-year-old Manenberg skollie refused getting in the cop van and called residents to save him.
“Officers then went to Joyce Court where they found 47 whole and seven half mandrax tablets and arrested one male, and then they moved to Gouritz Road where they arrested a man with 90 straws of tik and 31 units of heroin.
“But when they got to Gamka Street it was something else.”
Zama says while searching a member of the Fancy Boys gang found in possession of drugs on the corner of Greatfish and Gamka streets, cops came under attack.
“The 35-year-old male only had one packet of tik and a unit of heroin, but he started performing and refused to get into the van,” the top cop says.
“He called for help from residents who attacked the officers for arresting him.
“They threw stones which damaged the dashboards of the police vehicles and one officer’s cellphone.
Damaged dashboard. Picture supplied
“Officers were forced to fire rubber bullets to disperse the crowd and a woman was shot in the leg.”
Zama says luckily no officers were hurt in the incident as more than 100 residents attacked them, demanding the man be freed.
“The woman who was shot came to the station to make a case against the officers and I took the case so it can be investigated but people cannot attack the police and expect there not to be consequences,” Zama warns.
ONSLAUGHT: Drugs seized from various dens.
“The officers were carrying out their duties and attacks on police officers will not be tolerated.”
He says all the suspects were sent to Athlone Magistrates’ Court on Friday to appear and they are waiting for the dockets to be returned to the station.