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TUESDAY 13 October 2020 | Tel: 021 910 6500 | Email: post@peoplespost.co.za | Website: www.peoplespost.co.za
@ThePeoplesPost
People’s Post
HANOVER PARK
‘Gang war’ claims more lives SAMANTHA LEE-JACOBS SAMANTHA.LEE@PEOPLESPOST.CO.ZA
@SAMANTHA_LEE121
“H
anover Park is an active war zone.” This is how residents described the area following a spate of murders and sporadic shootings in the community over the last two weeks. Philippi police are investigating more than 10 counts of murder and attempted murder, as residents living in fear. A resident told People’s Post that while they are used to hearing the sound of gunshots, having so many cases so shortly after each other is concerning. “Hanover Park is gangland, we knew this all along, but the killings and shootings (are) getting out of hand. Men and women, youngsters getting shot anytime of the day. Anyone can be next,” says the woman. Another resident says this is war. “We are killing each other. Life means very little in Hanover Park. These gangsters and drug dealers are taking over and the community does not stand up against them,” says another woman. The mothers spoke to People’s Post on condition of anonymity for fear of being victimised by gangsters. The shootings are allegedly linked to a gang war between three local gangs for drug turf. The current spate of shootings started over the weekend of Friday 2 to Sunday 4 October, with no less than 11 people being shot, three of whom died. The public outcry started following an incident in Galilee Court on Saturday 3 October where a 28-year-old man was shot, with seven others – including children – injured. Following this particular incident, provincial minister for community safety Albert Fritz, requested an urgent meeting with the provincial police commissioner, Lt Gen Yolisa Matakata. “I am deeply concerned by the spate of violent crime that we have seen in recent weeks,” says Fritz. “I call on police to leave no stone unturned in their investigation. We cannot sit by idly and allow violent crime to undermine the safety of our communities.” Police confirmed another two shooting incidents took place on Thursday 8 October. “At about 07:10, police attended to a crime scene at Oribi Court where a 25-year-old woman was shot and wounded in her left leg. The inci-
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Hanover Park Residents Against Crime marched to the Philippi police station with a coffin to hand over a memorandum. dent occurred whilst she and two male friends were waiting to take a taxi. It is alleged that a male suspect approached them and took out a firearm and wounded the woman, who was taken to hospital,” says Philippi police spokesperson Capt Lance Goliath. Four spent cartridges were found at the scene. Suspects fled the scene on foot and are still at large. “At about the same time police also responded to a shooting incident in Stonelands Road where a 30-year-old man was fatally shot. He sustained two gunshot wounds to his head. A medic certified him as dead at the crime scene. Three spent cartridges and one projectile were found at the crime scene. Suspects are unknown and fled the scene on foot,” says Goliath, adding that the incidents are unrelated. Police have, however, already affected arrests and confiscated illegal firearms. Goliath says following the shootings, police conducted stop-and- search operations and increased visibility in identified hot spot areas in Hanover Park. On Sunday 4 October, the first arrest was made.
Two men, aged 20 and 27 were arrested in Jondown Walk after being found in possession of an undisclosed amount of live 9mm ammunition. A 17-year-old boy was arrested on Monday 5 October after he was found in possession of an unlicenced 12 gauge shotgun and ammunition in Ryburg Road at 20:00. Police made another arrest in the early hours of Wednesday 7 October, when they searched a 26-year-old man in Erie Court. He was found with a 9mm pistol loaded with a magazine of 9mm ammunition. On Friday 9 October at 10:00, a group of 20 residents attached to the Hanover Park Residents Against Crime marched to the station with a coffin to hand over a memorandum to acting station commander Col Jacobus Fredericks, calling for interventions. The admin for the Facebook group, Hanover Park my Home, also released an open letter to the president on Sunday 4 October following the shootings, titled: A township in mourning. “This is genocide. This cannot continue. Hanover Park is in mourning,” the
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letter read. “We are living in fear of our own sons who are controlled by gang leaders and drug dealers. We are fearful of pointing out the perpetrators because we do not trust the police. We don’t have the money to take our children out of this community, but why must we run away? We must be protected.” The letter further described the spate of killings as a pandemic, with the administrators calling on residents to join a march and draft plan for the community to call for an end to the violence. Police have been active in the area to restore calm with several arrests and confiscations made over the past weekend. Police are calling on residents to come forward with information about the shootings. Fredericks has condemned the shootings and is calling on the community for assistance. “Strengthening partnership between police and the community will create a safer environment,” he says. V Anyone with information is urged to call the station on 021 690 1504 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111. Alternatively, use the MySAPS mobile app.
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