Gang unit must be given teeth to bite

Finally, the eyes of the police top brass are on Nelson Mandela Bay, with plans afoot to start a new anti-gang unit in Port Elizabeth. This is in response to the violence and spate of gang-related shootings and murders in the northern areas, which have reached crisis levels. Police Minister Bheki Cele, on Monday, announced police would set up a task team to address the gang issues plaguing the area. He did not elaborate on the functions of the team and said officials were still working on resource allocation, but added the task team would eventually become an anti-gang unit.

It is good news for the city, particularly for the residents who live in absolute fear of stepping out of their homes. They fear allowing their children to play outside, even in their very own yards, for too many have been killed by stray bullets.

Every weekend, at least one person is killed in the northern areas in gang-related shootings.

It has become so prevalent that ANC MPL Christian Martin decided to take an unconventional stand.

Martin camped out in front of the office of premier Phumulo Masualle for about a week, along with Khoisan chiefs Crawford Fraser and Cora Hennings.

Martin slept in a coffin inside the tent, saying it represented the uncomfortable and awkward conditions in which the people of the northern areas lived. They also planted 78 crosses to represent the number of people killed in gang violence in the Bay between April 1 and October 30.

Martin’s actions, while dramatic, achieved the desired response.

They caught Cele’s attention and got him to the Bay to listen to the cries of a community which often complains it has been marginalised and forgotten.

While details are sparse, the task team and eventually anti-gang unit must be supported by the community as they try to reclaim their streets.

One hopes this will not be a task team with no meaningful contribution to the fight against crime.

It needs to be given the teeth to bite and make Helenvale, Gelvandale, Booysen Park and Bethelsdorp safer places to live.