[imagesource: Facebook / JP Smith]

Another day, another reminder of how law enforcement is losing the battle against the Cape’s most powerful gangs.

Across the Cape Flats, residents live in fear that violence will break out at any moment.

Manenberg saw at least eight deaths linked to gang warfare in one weekend last month as the Fancy Boys, Americans, and Hard Living gangs battle for power.

Yesterday afternoon, Hanover Park was the scene of a broad daylight shooting which reportedly left a 22-year-old man in hospital.

This via Cape Town Etc:

It is alleged that the sudden increase in gang violence comes after a former gang member from the area was gunned down in Lansdowne last Thursday.

The 23-year man was declared dead on the scene while a 25-year-old woman and a year-old baby were also wounded in the incident.

The violence has become so normalised that bodies sometimes lie on the street outside schools, and children can now differentiate between different types of gunfire.

The City of Cape Town’s Mayco Member for Safety and Security JP Smith shared the footage on Facebook:

In that post, he went on to say:

While we have again deployed increased resources to Hanover Park for us to assist SAPS in stabilizing the area, this is exactly what we have been pleading with communities earlier this week…

When these battles errupt, these communities line up to watch their “neighbours” go to battle. Over 51 shots fired between these rival groups, in full view of the community.

While the community cries for the guns to be silenced, why do we keep silent and protect our neighbours? This cycle will continue until our communities break the silence. Until then, the best we can do is assist SAPS in trying to bring calm to the area.

I’m not sure blaming residents, who fear they will be killed for speaking up, is the best approach here.

There is no quick and easy fix but it’s not as simple as communities outing those responsible.

What is the SAPS conviction rate when they are told who is behind the violence?

[source:capetownetc]