MEC engages with Ocean View residents to quell violence

MEC for Community Safety Dan Plato will meet Ocean View community leaders this week to give feedback on a way forward following violent protests.

Plato said that he will be engaging with the community leaders in the coming week after he visited the area.

“The main focus for me when I visited the area was to stop the violence.”

Among the grievances of the community is that that there is very poor police presence specifically at night and the community also demanded a change in management at the local police station.

“The community said they are not going to tolerate this any longer.

“My plan is to get direction (from) the community leaders in going forward to address the grievances of the community.”

Police maintained a strong presence throughout the weekend in the Ocean View area. Protests flared up last week as fedup residents took to the street to protest against weeks of ongoing crime in the area.

On Friday, residents burnt tyres and other debris on the main road and threw stones at police. Police used a water cannon to disperse the crowd

Residents took to the streets for three days in the early hours of the morning, forcing motorists to use alternative routes to reach their destinations.

The most highly publicised incident occurred earlier this month after a nineyear-old boy was shot in what is believed to be gang crossfire.

Aqeel Davids was shot hours before his grandmother was supposed to get married. He was taken to hospital, but died later.

Community Policing Forum chairperson Kathy Cronje said: “The community is extremely satisfied that the MEC visited the area.

“It shows that someone has finally listened to them and takes them seriously.” – marvin.charles@inl.co.za

A NINE-YEAR-OLD BOY WAS SHOT IN WHAT IS BELIEVED TO BE A GANG CROSSFIRE