Communities must stop attacking police – MEC

MEC FOR Community Safety Dan Plato has condemned the behaviour of community members who recently attacked the police in Hanover Park who were on a call-out.

Two weeks ago police vehicles were stoned in Eastridge, Mitchells Plain, and one person died after the paramedics could not enter the area. Officers tried to attend to a call in Hanover Park on Tuesday when stones were thrown at them.

Abie Isaacs, Mitchells Plain Community Policing Forum chairperson, said the same thing happened two weeks ago. “There was a gang-related shooting and the police responded to the call. But even the paramedics could not enter the area. The person who was shot, died. This is very unfortunate. Eastridge and parts of Tafelsig have become red zones. We find that some community members are on the payroll of gangsters and sit behind these attacks on police,” he said

“I understand the community is sometimes fed-up with the police, but they tried to arrest the perpetrator. We have been engaging the community.”

Phillip Bam, spokesperson for the Grassy Park CPF, said following the shooting of Ezra Daniels, 7, in Parkwood Estate a few weeks ago, the community responded by attacking the police. Ezra’s life was snatched away because of illegal firearms in the area.

Police faced an angry crowd who wanted to deal with one of the suspects who had been detained. “The police vehicle was attacked with a pickaxe handle, damaging the windscreen and body. Constables were manhandled in the effort to get to this suspect. The community has been buckling under gang violence in their neighbourhood.”

Bam added that the CPF has asked the community to remain calm. He warned against damaging police resources. “We demanded that the guns be removed from Parkwood Estate and other suburbs in Grassy Park. We realise the police have tried their best to deal with the situation in Parkwood, Ottery and Lotus River but it is not effective.”