Door-to-door campaign to collect signatures launched

THE provincial ANC has launched a campaign aimed at collecting signatures that will be presented to the courts and Justice Department demanding that bail for gangsters be opposed and denied.

At a press briefing, provincial party leaders Khaya Magaxa and Faiez Jacobs said yesterday the spate of gang violence on the Cape Flats was a growing concern affecting more than 25 communities.

They called for the provincial government to establish an integrated approach that would provide a long-term solution to gang violence.

ANC members and volunteers would embark on a door-to-door campaign to collect signatures.

“We want to start mobilising society. Gangs are not a political type of affiliation, they are an attack on society, hence we want to engage everyone,” said Magaxa.

He said it was important for local ward councillors to take the lead in fighting crime.

“We call on ward councillors to be more visible, lead the fight against crime and testify in court against the granting of bail,” he said.

Lashing out at the DA, the opposition leaders said it needed to focus its budget on fighting crime, rather than on technology.

“We need to see the provincial government investing. When the ANC was in charge, we invested a lot of money in the communities. We organised communities into community police forums (CPF), neighbourhood watches and volunteers.

“When you pay people stipends you are taking people out of the criminal economy,” said Magaxa.

The leaders criticised the DA for ending the Bambanani Programme, alleging that it was creating conflict between neighbourhood watches.

“The DA is using neighbourhood watches to mobilise; where the DA doesn’t have support you don’t get neighbourhood watches,” said Magaxa.

Jacobs said the implementation of the province’s own crime prevention strategy would help create a sustainable and integrated crime-fighting approach.

MEC for Community Safety Dan Plato rejected theallegations. “We support both the CPF and neighbourhood watches. They are trying to politicise safety matters. For a long period they have been silent, and now want to gain face.

“Both the CPF and neighbourhood watches are funded through our expanded partnership programmes,” he said.

Plato said neighbourhood watches and the Walking Bus initiative were far more effective than the Bambanani Programme. –

PICTURE: AYANDA NDAMANE CONCERNED: ANC Western Cape leaders Faiez Jacobs and Khaya Magaxa address the media on their signature campaign against gang violence.