The Western Cape government looks to be making use of the R6m budget to tackle gang violence in Manenburg.
|||Cape Town - Police, city law enforcement officers and metro police searched the homes of alleged gangsters for illegal firearms and drugs in Manenberg on Monday.
At least 15 police vehicles conducted stop-and-go searches in gangster hot spots.
Monday’s raids follow the announcement on Sunday that the provincial government had diverted R6 million from education to fund 71 metro police officers who would be based at schools affected by gang violence in Manenberg.
On Monday, Brigadier Andre van Dyk said more police had been deployed to the area and, together with metro police, law enforcement and specialised police teams, there were now 140 officers on patrol in the area.
“We are focusing on the seizing of guns. Gangsters are brilliant in channelling guns and it is not easy for us to find them. We need to spend more time searching the premises based on the information we are receiving,” said Van Dyk.
The additional officers deployed to the area were based at the police’s temporary office on the border of Hard Livings and Americans gangs’ territory.
The raid started at 9am and ended on Monday afternoon.
It went through Sonderend Road, where two policemen were attacked earlier in the month.
A few men were stopped and searched. Residents watched from their balconies.
Resident Lameez Johnson said it was a source of great comfort having police in her area.
“We feel safe now that it’s a gun-free zone. It’s nice to see police.
“Hopefully they won’t be doing this just for the next three days, it must last longer,” she said.
In Thames Avenue, the stop-and-go searches intensified.
Officers grabbed men and teens standing on street corners, shouting for them to “go on the ground” as they searched them.
Officers also entered homes where they believed gangsters lived, in search of illegal firearms and drugs.
Resident Dalene Adams said she was pleased with the raid because it scared away the Hard Livings gangsters who always stood outside her home selling drugs.
“Hard Livings sell drugs in front of our house. Three weeks ago they broke down my door looking for another gangster and by the time the police had arrived they were gone,” she said.
A few houses away, police arrested a 21-year-old for dagga possession.
In Renoster Road - where two teenagers were killed and another injured just over two months ago - police found a handful of bullets in a backyard home.
Police could not confirm if they had arrested any suspects in connection with the find.
They would continue with the raids.
”We have been able to stem the murders and attempted murders for the past four weeks and will continue to patrol and search for as long as necessary,” said Van Dyk.
zodidi.dano@inl.co.za
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