Is South Africa ready to take itself to such a violent place again? They also agreed that for people who grew up in places like the Cape Flats, the deployment of the army will not reverse negative psychological effects of violence they have been exposed to for years. Bheki Cele. cting Western Cape police commissioner Maj-Gen MM Manci, SAPS officials, metro police and the provincial government. The Mail & Guardian is a proud news publisher with roots stretching back 35 years, and we’ve survived right from day one thanks to the support of readers who value fiercely independent journalism that is beholden to no-one. This comes with a lot of responsibilities and expectations. We have increased our overtime budgets to allow our staff to make more of an impact in terms of the available hours we can put them in the field," he said. Who then will emerge as winner? Cape Town – Cape Flats activist Roegshanda Pascoe believes the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA) is not being used effectively to help curb … Independent Media. Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu recently mourned the violence on the Cape Flats and called on communities to make a concerted effort to ‘create an earthly chorus of undeniable protest’ (Tutu & Tutu 2014:15). Western Cape police are keeping a close eye on the Cape Flats, as gang violence in the area escalates. This is even more so for marginalised groups. There is, therefore, an urgent need to engage community members, including gang members themselves, to better understand the dynamics at play. "I call it a crisis. Or is it a deliberate mechanism to silence residents into fear? Smith outlined some of the issues with the SAPS and correctional services, saying the amount of parolees being released back into society, as well as the dropping of cases against alleged gangsters, was "troubling". It’s been three weeks since a battalion of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) was deployed to the crime-saturated Cape Flats. This remains a great source of trauma and woundedness for the many black South Africans who witnessed it. "There's no time at this point to fight with each other," he said. Is this an admission of failure by the police? This is a regression. It is not possible to invest in these communities if a culture of social anarchy exists.". The issue of releasing parolees without consulting the communities is wrong. "The police will immediately improve the link between technology and policing. Les Cape Flats sont l'un des héritages de la période d'apartheid et plus particulièrement du Group Areas Act. "It can't be business as usual; this is crisis stations.". After the election we've seen this huge spike in gang violence on the Cape Flats in the past two months. Violent Islamist movements have emerged from Cape Flats communities, along with other notable figures within the Muslim community, such as Fareed Ishaq, who embody an ecumenical strain of religious progressivism. These include rape, sexual abuse, domestic violence and murder. "It is not possible to achieve normalisation in the communities without stabilisation," he said. Cape Flats, located on the outskirts of Cape Town, legislative capital of South Africa, covers an expansive area and is troubled by gang violence. Read more at the SA government's online coronavirus portal or use the 24-hour public hotline: 0800 029 999. Cape Flats is one of the most violent places in South Africa. A zero sum game, altogether. Regular meetings between metro police and SAPS must be reinstituted; we can't play political games," he said. These are some of the repercussions or after effects of violence and a system where the rule of law is being compromised. So far this year, 900 people have been murdered in gang violence on the Cape Flats, bringing the total number of murders in the area to 1,600. "It's essential that we oppose bail of gangsters more effectively. Innocent civilians, including children, have become victims of stray bullets. We have seen the strain that violence is placing on our health system, with huge increas Street gangs are the primary distributors of illegal drugs on the streets of Cape Town. “Violence like we’ve seen over the past weekend impacts the whole province and all areas of government. "When the bullets are flying, you can't keep a clinic running, or schools. Fritz said the "good spirited" meeting was positive and that stakeholders had discussed how they could create solutions to the crime wave through collaborative efforts. 5 men shot in recent Cape Flats gun violence days after 3 teens killed. All material © Mail & Guardian Online. Well-known gangs on the Cape Flats … Although it might be anticipated that the military will conduct its operation and leave, it may actually sow more seeds of resentment, hatred, anger and violence in the same communities it is meant to serve. "This year's figures are around double that of last year's," said Smith. What the state is trying to achieve with this intervention, is a negative form of peace. In essence, it would seem this militarisation fails to take into consideration the country’s historical context and realities. The message being communicated here is that, like has been done in the past, we will also use violence to deal with your violence and criminal activities. Cape Town fire burns for a third day, authorities confirm... North West premier refuses to resign as IPC looks for... Nigeria’s Super Falcons: playing and begging. It, therefore, seems less prudent for the state, in 2019, to still consider military intervention as a plausible solution to quell the gang-related violence in the Cape Flats. For more news, visit sabcnews.com and also #SABCNews on Social Media. For it is through engagement with the community that solutions will be found. He said the figures are based on mortuary statistics between January and June. The city’s mayoral committee member for safety and security, JP Smith, and Fritz outlined the scope of the violence and its stifling impact on the province's efforts to address other social issues in some of the country's poorest communities. On the Cape Flats, the domestic workers’ children walked alone after school, down violent streets, to unsupervised homes. To help us continue for another 35 future years with the same proud values, please consider taking out a subscription. function loadDoc() {var xhttp = new XMLHttpRequest(); xhttp.onreadystatechange = function() { if (this.readyState == 4 && this.status == 200) { document.getElementById("pressoffice").innerHTML = this.responseText; }}; xhttp.open("GET", "https://mg.co.za/scripts/rss/pressofficeServer.php?menu=false&items=5&feed=http://pressoffice.mg.co.za/feed/rss2.php", true); xhttp.send();} loadDoc(); For all the latest information and advice from the Department of Health relating to Covid-19, please visit sacoronavirus.co.za. "Most gang-related crimes are planned in prison. Ace's 'Samson option': Magashule slated for trying to pull down pillars of ANC ... No-one is above the law, say leaders ahead of ConCourt decision on Zuma, Son's PPE deal dogs ANC chief whip Pemmy Majodina. What are the anticipated outcomes when the military intervenes? Most gangs make millions from selling illegal drugs, and use the proceeds to pay stipends to gang members, thereby keeping them loyal. He also suggested establishing "ammunition registers" that could allow police access to a centralised database that could track the sale of ammunition. "I call it a crisis. And this will not be a one-day- or one-night-fits-all approach. It requires a committed state that is looking for long-term, lasting solutions. Gang-related violence flares up in Cape Flats, more children die in crossfire. flipped into IOL News. This makes one realise that such violence is the fruit of underlying spiritual matters. A place where, once again, violence becomes a language to communicate, solve and silence problems? Again, at the beginning of this year, South Africa officially assumed its seat as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2019-2020. These are unprecedented times, and the role of media to tell and record the story of South Africa as it develops is more important than ever. In this context, it is very challenging to perceive the use of an institution that is used for coercion as an instrument that can help to promote the sustainable peace in the Cape Flats. Nobody knows exactly what has caused gang violence on the Cape Flats to escalate so drastically this year, with at least 900 people murdered in the first six months of 2019 alone. Cape Flats Gang violence: A Directional Policy research project. Cape Town's deadly gang wars have spilt over into traditionally quiet and peaceful areas. The Western Cape’s recently established Anti Gang Unit has arrested an alleged gang member whom it says allegedly terrorised communities living on ... Cape Flats violence 'at worst ever' with 1,600 murdered already this year. Fritz said they will continue to roll out youth programmes in affected communities in the hope that they can prevent young people from turning to crime out of desperation. But they still have to beg the Nigerian federation for pay and respect, please consider taking out a subscription, There is less full-time work than there was a year ago, Africa could produce a Covid-19 vaccine sooner than you think, Environmental organisations demand halt to unnecessary plastic production, Ramaphosa announces ‘substantial changes’ to armed forces leadership, A new era of vaccine sovereignty in Africa beckons, Medical aids blame external costs as fees increase beyond inflation, No mercy for teachers who are found guilty of misconduct. “We don’t work under the easiest circumstances,” says 32-year-old Dominique Caswell. The crisis has prompted an urgent meeting between acting Western Cape police commissioner Maj-Gen MM Manci, SAPS officials, metro police and the provincial government. In a country in which violence has already been entrenched as a means of communication, such an intervention poses myriad challenges and risks to the targeted communities. One of the greatest complaints about Group Areas removals was that individual families rather than whole neighbourhoods were moved to the Cape … The meeting was held on Thursday morning, where the surge in gang violence in the province over the past two months was discussed. The government said in a statement that it is implementing numerous initiatives aimed at putting an end to such "acts of terrorism" and to restore calm to local communities. The existence of gang violence in South Africa, particularly in Cape Town, is an indication of underlying structural and systemic challenges that need to be addressed. He said violence in the ganglands is the root of other socio-economic issues, such as service delivery and the running of schools and clinics. We've also seen violence emerging in rural areas," he added, referring to robberies and killings on farms in the province. of socio-economic assistance but also a communal mechanism. So far this year, 900 people have been murdered in gang violence on the Cape Flats, bringing the total number of murders in the area to 1,600. "The priority committee that meets to discuss gang violence is not functioning," he admitted. Last weekend, 43 people were murdered in separate incidents in the Cape Flats, townships on the city’s outskirts, as already high levels of violence exploded in a gang war. Or a failure of the capacity of the criminal justice system to diligently investigate, prosecute and convict where necessary? The Cape Flats is being torn apart by gang warfare – from Lavender Hill to Delft. After the election we've seen this huge spike in gang violence on the Cape Flats in the past two months. 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Police Minister Bheki Cele last week announced that the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) would be deployed on the Cape Flats for … Nhimbe practice in Zimbabwe revisited: Not only a method . But gang violence can make the Cape Flats feel like a forsaken place. There is also a need to try to understand what is it that is being expressed through the use of gang violence by the different actors and players involved. ALSO READ: Why our soldiers can’t stop the Cape Flats gang violence “The FPS manages thousands of legal firearms – FPS managed 180,000 handguns and 350,000 semi-automatic rifles and shotguns.” The pressure group says the public should be informed about the current crisis regarding the management of firearms in South Africa and its implications. It is also the area in which most of Migrant labour was housed. A plan to end Cape Town’s violence. Fatherlessness: The violence in the Cape Flats is recurring. This is because when violence manifests, it does not only do so through the exchange of gunfire but in other forms. Material may not be published or reproduced in any form without prior written permission. Last week, the Western Cape government reported that 25 murders had occurred on the first weekend after deployment, with 46 the next. Are these figures important? Is there an expectation of peace after the military intervention? One of the major catalysts for the intractable Cape Flats gangs’ violence is the proliferation of drugs. Origins. 200 SAPS officers deployed to help curb scourge of... iol.co.za - Sisonke Mlamla • 16h. These are the questions that immediately come to mind when thinking about the deployment of the more than 1 000 soldiers to help quell gang violence and crime in the impoverished parts of Cape Town. Who will craft and design that peace? Who will lose? Smith was unable to provide answers as to why crime had spiked so severely, after having been on a gentle decline for the past year since the anti-gang unit was established. Fritz said some short-term interventions have been planned. Is there an expectation to ultimately end gang violence in the Cape Flats? ALSO READ: Why our soldiers can’t stop the Cape Flats gang violence “The FPS manages thousands of legal firearms – FPS managed 180,000 handguns and 350,000 semi-automatic rifles and shotguns.” Police minister Bheki Cele looked worn down on Wednesday when he visited the family of 34-year-old Sgt Donovan Prins, the police officer who was ... Community safety MEC Albert Fritz says Western Cape residents are living in a “war zone” after 14 people were murdered on the Cape Flats in the last ... A police officer responding to intense gang violence in Cape Town was killed on Monday night in a shootout with suspects. What is needed as a long-term solution in the Cape Flats is not a negative state of peace but positive peace. Remember, in a military intervention, there are always winners and losers. The communities in these areas live in fear daily, and hearing gunshots at all hours of the day has become an unpleasant norm. Although gangsterism is a national phenomenon, Western Cape gangs are much more sophisticated and are believed to account for almost 70% of all crime in the Western Cape (Kinnes 2000:5). Les Cape Flats sont une bande de terrains plats situés au sud-est du quartier central des affaires du Cap. Cape Town's mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith and MEC for community safety Albert Fritz. Many still recall the trauma and violent nature of community life during apartheid, where the regime was particularly known for its heavy reliance on the armed forces to maintain its control and squash any form of resistance. Cape Flats Violence - South African Police Probe Philippi Carnage This comes after two separate shooting incidents in the Cape Town suburb left 13 people dead in 48 hours. Africa and the world are looking for sustainable solutions to violence — solutions that do not involve using violence to address violence. It is an uncomfortable meeting. Rejection due to fatherlessness and in many cases absent mothers results in social ills like rape, malnutrition, all forms of abuse (verbal, physical, emotional, and sexual). Cape Flats. They all have cellphones. image caption Ridding the Cape Flats of gang violence is a long-term project. "Metro police's tactical response unit is being increased by 47 members, so that we can work around the clock and work in more communities simultaneously. What does it mean when a country resorts to military intervention in an attempt to address violence and criminal activity within its domestic sphere? It is critical for the state to understand why communities resort to violence and gangsterism as a language of communication to effectively address challenges and transform communities. IN PICS | UCT fire: South Africans help stranded students as university ... Ringleaders of Cape Town refugee protests kicked out of SA, Video timelapse of raging Cape Town fire spreading toward city, Cultural cold shoulder: Fighting damning perceptions as an Ndebele activist. This week, the Lavender Hill community has been terrorised by shootings, and a 34-year-old police officer was killed on Monday night after pursuing five suspects. "We are alarmed by the amount of illegal firearms we are seeing, including firearms that have been returned to SAPS and are reappearing in the hands of gangsters," he said. What is needed as a long-term solution in the Cape Flats is not a negative state of peace but positive peace. Nonhlanhla Sibanda-Moyo is a gender specialist at the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation. South Africa comes from a painful history of military presence in townships, especially in the 1960s and 1970s and during the state of emergency in the 1980s. What exactly is South Africa ineptly admitting to, here? In most instances, these are women and girls, who often find themselves at the receiving end of the violence. What will happen after the “perceived sense of security” provided by the presence of the military is withdrawn and the army is pulled from that community? Smith said the meeting had discussed some of the issues surrounding the police,  correctional services and community safety forums, pledging to commit more officers to the field and increase the amount of CCTV surveillance available to crime-stoppers. We've also seen violence emerging in rural areas," he added, referring to robberies and killings on farms in the province. 2019-08-08. It was the area that most Black people were moved to after areas were declared 'White Only' . The organisation came to prominence for acts of vigilante violence against gangsters, including arson and murder. The less calculated resolve to resort to instilling fear and silencing citizens instead of finding solutions to address pervasive societal ills — mainly caused by systematic inequalities, poverty and unemployment — is of much concern. © 2021 Arena Holdings (Pty) Ltd. All rights reserved. This, said Western Cape community safety MEC Albert Fritz, made it the worst year in history. In my view, it is an uncalculated gamble. The military is an institution whose traditional function is to inflict physical violence and death on those deemed to be enemies of the state. South Africa does not need this. The police precinct with the highest number of killings in South Africa last year, Nyanga, also in the Cape Flats, had 308 murders — one fewer than Baltimore, a … Les populations qui y résident sont quasi exclusivement les populations d'origine non-européenne. The meeting was held on Thursday morning, where the surge in gang violence in the province over the past two months was discussed. Finally, as South Africa is currently in the process of finalising an implementation framework on United Nations Resolution 1325, which specifically calls for gendered responses to peace and security, the country cannot surely afford to drop the ball at this point. The Cape Flats comprises the Areas East of the Northern and Southern Suburbs of Cape Town and is made up of Black Townships, Coloured ghettoes and Shantytowns. People Against Gangsterism and Drugs (PAGAD) is a group formed in 1996 in the Cape Flats area of Cape Town, South Africa. … According to Johan Galtung, the father of peace studies, negative peace refers to the absence of violence, while positive peace is about the presence of harmony that meets the different understanding and needs of a society. A whole lot of people have been released on parole.