A Mitchells Plain top cop says there is a link between ganglords and laaities smashing people’s windows in the area.
Mitchells Plain Police Station Commander, Brigadier Cass Goolam, says it’s the second time this year that the problem of broken windows rears its head, after a spate of attacks in March.
But he says the issue is about more than window-smashing.
“I am very disturbed by these attacks starting up again. We had incidents in March 2016 and intervened and things have been quiet since then. This time we know there is a connection to ganglords in the area,” he tells the Daily Voice.
Last week residents in Sharon Street and Tafelberg Road in Lost City complained about an increase in window-smashing by boys, some as young as six years old.
The residents, who asked not to be identified for fear of being targeted, claim their calls to police have fallen on deaf ears.
Goolam confirms meeting with residents last week, but denied claims of police not responding to calls.
“It is easy to say we are not there assisting, but when we are there and we are engaging people on both sides, we are seen to be taking sides, and that is not the case,” says Goolam.
“We are now engaging residents and increasing our presence in the area, but we can only do so much. Parents whose kids are involved in these activities must deal with their children and not just accept what they are doing.”