Cape Town - Police in Manenberg are fighting back against gangs amid allegations that gunmen have been instructed to open fire on officers conducting their duties.
Over the past month, officers led by acting station commander, Colonel Jayce Naidoo, have been saturating the police precinct to throttle gangs into submission, recovering a large number of firearms.
Naidoo said with an intelligence-focused approach, which includes working alongside metro police, law enforcement, Leap officers and traffic enforcement officers, Manenberg had a “ring of steel around the precinct”.
“As we entered into the new month of September, gang violence suddenly erupted and the conflict seemed to escalate between rival gangs on August 28, 2024. Renewed crime prevention pressure was deployed without any hesitation.
“The Anti-Gang Unit and Manenberg Crime Prevention Unit was deployed and is still deployed to break the back of the suspected gang violence, that holds the community at large hostage.
“Gangs were suddenly given permission to shoot on police officers patrolling the streets of Manenberg performing their duties.”
Naidoo said eight firearms and ammunition were confiscated in various hotspots, including Francesca Court, Inga Court, Plate Road and Greatfish Avenue, among others.
“These successes contributed to the valuable information shared by our community and the quick response by our dedicated officers. I want to encourage the community to continue to play an active role in crime prevention by reporting all criminal activity, ensuring greater, safer Manenberg communities.
“The continued partnership between community through our neighbourhood watches, street (committees), community in Blue and the Community Policing Forum will be strengthened by our positive crime prevention outcomes.”
Naidoo said police were also called into a primary school to quell violence between learners and during searches officers confiscated knives.
“There have always been gang groupings at school. The bigger established gangs use the schools for recruiting new young members.
“They start off selling drugs at school – from dagga to tik and even heroin. The schools are usually in existing territories. They use the schools to claim new territories and when the conflict happens, this goes for high schools and primary school.
“The gangs are also involved in co-ordinating stone throw after schools. This affects primary school learners the most.”
Cape Argus