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Recent tensions in Grassy Park, sparked by a surge in shootings in the area, have raised concerns within the Grassy Park Community Policing Forum (CPF).
According to spokesperson Philip Bam, a 27-year-old man was recently killed in an alleged gang-related shooting in Grassy Park. A 24-year-old man was shot in the leg and taken to hospital.
“This death comes in the wake of many reported shootings in the last few weeks in our police area. Our condolences to the family of the deceased and our commiseration with the young man who was injured and his family,” says Bam.
He says the CPF is appealing to the youth to consider consequences of gangsterism.
“It is not at all as rosy as portrayed by gang bosses who lure our young people into a life of crime and drugs. Parents are traumatised. Families are torn apart and our community suffers all the time as the potential of gang shooting is very real in our neighbourhoods. We wish our youth to know that there is a better life. Gangsterism does not pay. There are facilities available in the community to assist youngsters who wish to opt out of gangsterism and drugs,” Bam adds.
While the CPF is grateful to the police for dealing with the proliferation of guns in Grassy Park, the forum still feels that the police’s strategies to effectively deal with the situation are falling short.
“The police must be more creative in their efforts to rid our communities of the guns in circulation among gangsters. There must be zero tolerance towards gangsterism. We call for the application of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act which makes it a criminal offence to belong to a gang. Too many youngsters go around bragging about gang membership. This is not good for our people. It has been proven recently that a sustained search-and-seize approach can be successful. Suspicious people on our streets should be stopped and searched. In this way drugs and guns can be removed from our streets.
“The CPF also calls upon our community to be observant and report suspicious activity to the police. Together we can make our area safer.”
