Gang violence forces water tanker out of northern areas
Residents of Timothy Valley in Ward 38 were forced to go hours without water after a water tanker had to be pulled out of the area because of gang violence on Saturday.
Ward 38 councillor Edward Harker said gang violence was leading to residents not receiving basic services as municipal workers were either robbed or caught in the crossfire, as on Saturday.
“There are shootings in my ward every day,” he said.
“On Saturday, I accompanied the truck from the George Botha Hall to Timothy Valley.
“There was no water in the area due to a burst pipe.
“When I went to check other areas in the community, I was told the driver had pulled out because of shooting.
“Last week, a [alleged] gangster was shot dead close to the spot the tank was deployed to.
“So the gangsters were coming from their colleague’s funeral when they started firing shots.”
Harker said gang violence and criminality were preventing residents from receiving basic services.
“It doesn’t just stop with the water tankers.
“It can be electricians fixing electricity, refuse collectors are robbed and there’s not even enough municipal security to deal with this issue, which is why we are in constant contact with the police.”
He said his ward was flagged as a red-zone in terms of gang violence.
He added that the community needed to take ownership as well and work alongside the municipality and the police.
Harker said water supplies had eventually been restored at about 9pm on Saturday.
He said the defence force patrolled the area at weekends in an effort to reduce crime.
Safety and security political head John Best said there had been a meeting with provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Liziwe Ntshinga to discuss certain operational issues in the metro.
Best said officials accompanied municipal workers deployed with water tankers.
“We and the police will have a discussion this week because we can’t allow gangs to hinder the delivery of basic services in the city.
“This is not just a municipal problem but that of the police as well because gangsterism is criminality and everyone needs to be involved in fighting this,” Best said.
Police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu said the anti-gang unit was still deployed in the northern areas.