By Anita Dangazele
Helen Zille, the DA’s federal chairperson, joined hundreds of angry residents on Thursday in a march against violence in the northern areas of Gqeberha.
The march comes after three-year-old Emilio Hutchinson was murdered at his home last week when gunmen kicked down the door before shooting and killing him, his grandmother Ellen, and a house guest, Claudio Thomas.
Ellen’s two teenage children were injured in the shooting.
The Hutchinson family was reportedly woken by a loud banging at about 11pm last Tuesday. Ellen and her teenage son pressed their bodies against the door, trying to keep the men out, but the attackers opened fire and killed Ellen before forcing their way in.
Once inside, they shot and killed Emilio and Claudio.
Addressing the marchers outside the Helenvale police station, Zille said: “Children need to be safe everywhere. If Emilio’s parents’ home is not the right place and if nighttime for a young child to be in his home is not the right time then I do not know what the right place and the right time is.”
Emilio is one of 45 people who have been killed since January in the Northern Areas.
Retief Odendaal, the DA’s caucus leader in the municipality, said Nelson Mandela Bay residents can no longer accept the high number of murders.
“We cannot have a three-year-old child being killed in his own home,” he said.
The DA submitted a memorandum to the Gelvandale Police Station demanding immediate intervention from the police minister, Bheki Cele.
They want Cele to double the number of police officers allocated to the anti-gang unit, deploy a special task force in the Northern Areas, and increase police visibility, among other measures.
Pictured above: Helen Zille addressing DA supporters and fed-up residents in Helenvale, Gqeberha.
Image source: Supplied
