Slain duo mourned

Bishop Lavis community up in arms over women’s deaths

A JOINT memorial service for two women shot and killed in Bishop Lavis was held at an open field next to Bishop Lavis Court yesterday. Their deaths shook the community at the weekend.

The two were shot dead in separate incidents. Janine Niewenhuys, 26, was shot on Friday, while Cynthia Oosterhuizen, a 53-year-old mother, was shot on Saturday.

Police spokesperson Noloyiso Rwexana said Niewenhuys was shot near the court. According to information, she was waiting for a taxi when she was caught in cross fire. “The victim died due to her injuries. A murder case has been opened with no arrests so far.”

In the other incident, Rwexana said, the Anti-Gang Unit is still investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting at Inkblom Street, Kalksteenfontein, Bishop Lavis, in which Oosterhuizen was shot dead. She said two suspects aged 23 and 36 were arrested and will appear in court soon.

Yesterday, family, friends and the Bishop Lavis community gathered to pay their respects to the women at the service which was organised by the Bishop Lavis Action Community (BLAC) in collaboration with the West Street Committee.

BLAC spokesperson Amanda Davids said the deployment of the Anti-Gang Unit has not brought relief to their communities.

“The Metro Police are just as ineffective, meanwhile political parties are playing political games with the lives of the Cape Flats’ poor, working class communities.”

Davids said BLAC is still questioning why the authorities do not declare the Cape Flats as a disaster area.

“We are facing low intensity warfare. Our women and children are being killed indiscriminately,” she said.

The community had numerous protest actions against gang violence.

“Even over the festive season we had protest actions in front of the Lavis SAPS. Four protest actions were held during the course of last year to get the attention of the authorities,” Davids said.

“Now two mothers are taken away violently. This could have been prevented.”

Davids said: “We demanded the full implementation of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act. We demand a public works programme with a living wage. When our youth do not have employment, they turn to degenerative tendencies.”

Declare the Cape Flats a disaster area. We’re facing low intensity warfare Amanda Davis BLAC spokesperson