Residents attack alleged gangster
BLIKKIESDORP in Delft resembled a war zone over the weekend as several corrugated iron shacks went up in flames, a man was stoned to death and shots were fired at an alleged drug dealer by angry residents.
Eight informal dwellings were burned to the ground when a group of residents with petrol bombs, attacked an alleged gangster’s house. Other dwellings caught fire in the process.
A 20-year-old man was also stoned to death during a night of terror.
Yesterday, the affected residents were sifting through the rubble trying to salvage what they could.
Resident Faldiela White recounts what happened on Saturday. She said one person was targeted.
“The person was selling drugs and was warned by the residents, but he never listened,” said White.
Furious resident Shanaaz Solomons said they did not sleep on Saturday night due to the fire. “We do not even know where to go now and what to eat. Why do we all have to suffer
because of one person?”
Solomons said all of her documents, including her ID were burnt.
“Why does the City of Cape Town not make plans to give us houses?,” she asked.
Another resident Anton Adams, whose house survived the fire, prepared food for the affected residents, and urged the City of Cape Town to assist him in helping the community, and provide housing for them “as promised”.
Adams said his fear was that residents might turn on each other.
City of Cape Town fire and rescue spokesperson Theo Layne said 10 informal settlements were destroyed, leaving hundreds of residents displaced.
City disaster risk management spokesperson Charlotte Powell said the team did an assessment after the fire.
“We requested humanitarian relief from the SA Social Services Agency and starter fire kits to rebuild the informal structures from the City’s informal settlements department.”
Police spokesperson FC Van Wyk said a 20-year-old man was severely assaulted by the community and died due to injuries sustained.
He said, according to reports, the community of Blikkiesdorp set alight a suspected drug den. Eight to 10 other shacks were destroyed in the process, he said.
“Taking the law to yourself is a criminal offence. The people have the responsibility to report crime to police.
“They must have confidence in the police to be able to handle the situation to their satisfaction.” said Van Wyk.
No arrests have been made.