Cosatu call against crime

FOLLOWING several peaceful marches in different communities to highlight the scourge of gang violence, a national shutdown is being planned.

A day after the national crime statistics were released, which painted a grim picture of a nation in the grip of crime, residents from Bishop Lavis and Elsies River held peaceful marches at several spots in their neighbourhoods to show their anger. Bonteheuwel, Kensington and Factreton held similar marches.

Now, Cosatu is calling for a mass shutdown on October 3 to force the government to put an end to crime and gang violence.

At a press briefing yesterday, Cosatu, along with other civil society organisations outlined their plans for the mass shutdown. Cosatu provincial secretary Malvern de Bruyn said they would be in unity and solidarity with frustrated communities.

“This is born out of desperation for the declining safety situation in the province as been shown by the recently released annual crime statistics,” he said.

The founder of the United Public Safety Front, John Cloete said: “We want the government to realise how serious the issue of gangsterism is affecting our communities.” Cloete said the government was failing.