MPs to inspect the Bay’s gang-plagued hotspots

The cries of northern areas residents have resonated with parliament’s police portfolio committee, which will conduct an oversight visit and inspection in the gang-ridden area next week.

This follows several gang-related shootings and murders in recent weeks.

On Thursday afternoon, a 58-year-old man was shot dead in Burke Street, Bethelsdorp, when a stray bullet hit him in the upper body.

Police said two gangsters were shooting at each other and the man got caught in the crossfire.

On Wednesday, Auburn Blouw, 24, was fatally shot and a 22-year-old wounded when two gunmen opened fire on their vehicle after it broke down in Stanford Road.

Police portfolio committee chair Francois Beukman said MPs would be briefed by authorities on what was being done to counter the ongoing gang violence.

The decision to conduct the on-site inspection and to be briefed by police was made after MPs received requests from Bay residents for the deployment of an anti-gang unit in the area to curb the killings.

“We will be speaking to the police and Hawks. We want to know what is currently being done and what they are planning to do,” he said.

Beukman said MPs would also consult with the Independent Police Investigative Directorate during their visit.

The delegation will arrive on Monday and has already earmarked a visit to the Bethelsdorp police station.

Several gang-related shootings have occurred in the area.

The day after the visit, the committee will be briefed by national police commissioner Khehla Sitole and his management team on the establishment of the anti-gang unit, launched in Cape Town on November 2.

Beukman said the committee regarded the establishment of the unit as an important step to ensure appropriate responses to gang-related crime in specific police precincts.

He said MPs would also be discussing the possible roll-out of the anti-gang unit to other metropolitan areas.

Last week, Marlon Koopman, 43, was gunned down in Rensburg Street, Bethelsdorp, while Sheldon van Schalkwyk, 29, was shot dead in the same street a day later.

Earlier in November, Ruaan Willemse, 8, Deacon van Rooyen, 14, and Chadwin Calvert, 17, were gunned down in a house in Capulet Street.

Keenan Louw, 26, died in hospital later.