By Buziwe Nocuze
- Residents in Cape Town say refusing to join gangs means death threats, house break-ins and endless shootings in their streets.
- Western Cape officials call forced gang recruitment alarming, but locals say police are part of the problem and offer no real help.
Residents of Capricorn in Muizenberg say gangsters are trying to force them into gangs by threatening to kill them.
One man, who asked not to be named, said: “If we refuse, they say we’ll die. They also break into houses and damage property.”
He said the men of the area never wanted to join gangs, but now feel trapped. “If we wanted that life we would have joined ourselves. Now they say we’ll be killed if we don’t.”
The resident said police officers run when gangs open fire. “We can’t report it because some of them are part of the gangs,” he said.
Western Cape MEC for police oversight and community safety Anroux Marais said gangs forcing people to join is alarming and will not be tolerated.
“Gangsterism is deeply rooted in our communities and thrives on fear,” she said. “We must not allow it to become normal.”
Marais urged anyone facing threats to report it at any police station, even if not their local one. She said the MySAPS app can be used to report crime anonymously.
Western Cape SAPS spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg said Muizenberg police are aware of the shootings and have measures in place.
He advised residents to make an appointment with station management so complaints can be investigated.
Pictured above: Capricorn.
Image source: Living Hope
