Police have launched a major anti-crime operation in Lavender Hill in retaliation for the shooting death of a traffic officer.
|||Cape Town - Police have launched a major anti-crime operation in Lavender Hill in retaliation for the shooting death of traffic officer Wesley Woodman last week.
Woodman’s death, along with a spate of gangsterism, murder and drug dealing in the area prompted police and Metro Police to launch their “largest” targeted operation in the area to date. Mayoral Committee member for Safety and Security JP Smith, said it was law enforcement’s “retaliation”.
Traffic officer Woodman was fatally shot by gangsters last week while while issuing a fine to Shuaib Afradien, 26, in Lavender Hill. Afradien was killed too. There have been several other incidents in the past few weeks.
“We want gangsters to know that they can expect this sort of reaction if a city or police official becomes the target of this violent crime. It sends out a message and hopefully ensures that criminals will think twice before attacking an official,” Smith said.
Smith added that “the gangs must know that we are there”.
Metro Police Chief Wayne le Roux described Operation Choke as a stabilisation period, saying that information from the community suggested that there were imminent plans in a number of gangs to up the ante in the ongoing turf warfare.
“Plans for a great deal of shooting are afoot; we want to curb and avoid this,” said Smith.
Similar police operations would follow in other areas in the Cape Flats.
Le Roux added: “Over the last two weeks we have seen a significant increase in gang shootings.
“The conflict has been centred on, but not confined to, Lavender Hill. We have had a number of incidents where members of the public have been caught in this crossfire.”
The operation, which includes the police, traffic officers, the Metro Police and other law enforcement officials, will focus on retrieving stolen goods, identifying and shutting down council properties used for illegal activity, setting up roadblocks, vehicle searches, the confiscation of illegal weapons and warrant of arrest checks.
There will also be foot and dog handler patrols throughout the area.
The operation is expected to run for up to two weeks.
In the last few days alone, police have confiscated several firearms including a Z88 9mm handgun, an AK-47 and an LM6 assault rifle in Lavender Hill and surrounding areas.
With schools reopening this week, their intention was also to protect pupils as they returned to their classrooms.
Cape Argus