Community members pelt police with stones
POLICE officers arresting a teenager caught with drugs in Manenberg came under attack from angry residents, who pelted their vehicles with stones, demanding that the man be released.
According to Manenberg police spokesperson Ian Bennett, the officers were deployed in the area to combat gang violence. “Members were busy with stop and searches when they searched an 18-year-old male. He was in possession of two mandrax tablets and two sticks of dagga. He was arrested, as members loaded him in their vehicle (the) community started pelting their vehicle with stones.”
He said the community demanded that SAPS members release the suspect, but they managed to drive away with the suspect in custody.
“The situation seems to worsen as members are being attacked by community members that complain that SAPS is not doing their job.”
Manenberg activist Roegshanda Pascoe said, “They are afraid of intimidation, either by police or gangsters. We lose either way.” Pascoe said the treatment of victims by police was a large part of the problem. “There’s no privacy for victims and the handling of the case makes the victim feel more like a perpetrator.”
Meanwhile, an 82-yearold woman got caught in the middle of an alleged incident of gang violence in Lavender Hill. The family would not speak on account of their safety.
SAPS provincial spokesperson FC Van Wyk said, “Circumstances surrounding a shooting incident on Tuesday at 11.45am whereby an 82-yearold victim was injured while sitting in her living room in Lavender Hill are under investigation. She was hit by a stray bullet.”
He said anyone with information should contact the Steenberg police station or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.