As gunshots and fear turn several Cape Flats areas into a ‘volatile war zone’, JP Smith takes to Facebook to appeal for the community’s assistance after four people were shot since gang violence erupted in Lavender Hill and Ottery.
This comes as Smith deploys maximum enforcement resources across Ottery, Lavender Hill, Manenberg and Hanover Park to assist SAPS operations.
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‘With so many incidents, it cannot be that absolutely no one saw either of the shooters. We will help these communities as best as possible but we need the community to help us,’ urges City of Cape Town’s MMC for Safety and Security JP Smith in a Facebook post shared on Friday night.
‘Tell us who [and] where they are. Point us in the right direction. We will do the rest.’
In another Facebook post, Smith explains that although law enforcement’s ‘eye in the sky’ is up and running, it’s battling to identify shooters within the different areas.
‘Shooters are blending in with groups, then making quick hits, before dispersing again with the crowds as enforcement arrives,’ says Smith.
Also on Friday night, Smith reported that both SAPS and City law enforcement officers are coming under attack while operating in the areas.
‘In Ottery, members supporting SAPS arrested a suspect with Mandrax and 168 rounds of ammunition. Members then came under attack from the surrounding community and needed to discharge several shotgun rubber rounds in order to get the suspect out and themselves to safety,’ said Smith.
‘In Lavender Hill, members had to call for assistance after being fired upon. With a wave of backup arriving, the dedicated Shotspotter officers were able to withdraw to safety.’
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These incidents follow shortly after an alleged gang leader was arrested in Lavender Hill.
According to Smith, law enforcement officers were following up on information in the area and approached a man believed to be selling drugs in Dover Court.
‘In his possession officers found cash in small denominations as well as several individually wrapped Mandrax tablets. He was arrested but further enquiries showed he was the leader of the Fast Guns gang and was currently out on parole,’ reported Smith.
He added that the Department of Correctional Services was notified of the parole violations ‘so that the parole granted can be overturned and, hopefully with this conviction, for his sentence to be extended’.
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Picture: JP Smith / Facebook