Every Agent Will Promise To Sell Your Home … We GUARANTEE it
CEA: MIEA Broker/Owner.
Mark Brickles 072 742 6963
If your Home Doesn’t Sell We’ll buy it
Call Mark For More Info OR SMS “G15,Your Name, Email address/ address to 072 742 6963 FREE CALL 0800-00-00-08 24HRS, 7 DAYS A WEEK www.markbrickles.com
*T & C Apply*
E-mail: post@peoplespost.co.za
Tuesday 15 January 2013
RE/MAX Ultra Select
Tel: 021 713 9440 www.peoplespost.co.za
Gang violence continues TASMIN CUPIDO
THEIRS is a community divided. Separated by the Bruce Road Community Centre, residents of the Marble Flats in Ottery have been caught in the crossfire between rival gangs. The fighting, believed to be a drug turf war between the Mongrels and Eurocats, has gripped the community since June and continued over the festive season. It has claimed the lives of three people, including 17-yearold Raafiq Isaacs, and seen more than 10 people injured. Rumours of peace talks and a truce between the gangs have surfaced, but has been shunned by residents, who claim the shooting has increased over the last two weeks. Cellphone video footage of various shooting incidents has been doing the rounds in the community. The area was also selected by the City of Cape Town for a R100m rental stock unit upgrade. The project is currently in its second phase, although the City questioned the safety of the contactors at the commencement of the second phase. Extra security at the temporary village and a higher police visibility ensured that the project continue. The City also postponed and changed the venue of the annual Lotus River Concert in the Park, which was planned for Bruce Road Sports Field on Sunday 13 January. The free concert will now be held tomorrow (Wednesday 16 January) at the Klip Road Sports Field in Parkwood Estate. And with the 2013 academic year commencing tomorrow residents have expressed their concerns about the safety of their children. Many children from either side of the community attend school on the side they do not live in. People’s Post visited both sides to speak to residents, on condition of anonymity, about the situation and ask their opinions on possible solutions to end the conflict and vio-
lence. On the side closest to Bruce Avenue, residents expressed their concerns about the ongoing violence. “Our community needs to support each other. We do not understand each other, so we don’t support each other,” a male resident said. “While they are supporting each other as on the other side of the border, we do not defend each other here. There will not be a solution to the gang violence – even during peace, four of my brothers were killed. Forty years is not the same as 40 days in this place." A young resident said: “We are not violent people and this fighting is not good for our children. These gangsters claim to be fighting for us, but we have nothing to do with them. They must just leave our community.” On the side closest to Old Strandfontein Road, residents expressed their concerns about Grassy Park police. “It seems they are working in partnership with the other community,” one elderly woman said. “They are always harassing our people and nothing happens to them.” Another woman resident said: “The Eurocats no longer exist. Many of these children have lost parents to gang violence and are defending themselves. Our people are being chased and threatened by the gang on that side. They (the police) are always coming here, looking for a leader, but here is no leader. They are fighting against an entire community, because the claimed lives are those of innocent people. They are just shooting on anyone.” Philip Bam, Grassy Park Community Police Forum (CPF) spokesperson, said they will be speaking to the police about beefedup patrols as the school year starts. “If the community is complaining about possible corruption, the matter needs to be investigated. We have to do something to change that notion.” People's Post attempted to gain comment from Grassy Park police, but could not do so at the time of going to print.
GOLDEN MOMENTS: Claims made by the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) that participation in the annual minstrel carnival is “degrading” and “undignified” were slammed by the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival Association. Despite the claims, thousands of spectators packed the city centre to catch a glimpse of the annual Tweede Nuwejaar cultural show piece. After being disappointed on New Year’s Eve, when the Cape Malay Choirs’ road march was cancelled due to high winds, the minstrel carnival did not disappoint the crowds. See page 10 and 11 for more. Photo: Clint Dixon