‘Police minister is disrespecting us’

Angry Bonteheuwel residents say Bheki Cele has no solutions to violence in the area

FAILURES POLICE Minister Bheki Cele faced an angry Bonteheuwel crowd who accused of him of offering no solution to the ongoing gang killings in the area.

Cele’s visit comes just days after three people were shot dead in the space of four hours. The community did not shy away from lashing out at Cele, accusing him of disrespecting and failing them.

“We are here because we are interested to know what the minister has to say to us today. If the minister is just here because the three murders that happened over the weekend I am very disappointed, because how many months have not passed and we have lost people. On Christmas eve and New Years eve we have had massacres,” said Nadia Mayman, chairperson of the Bonteheuwel Ratepayers and Tenants Association.

She said that over the years meetings between residents and the police proved to be fruitless.

“We have had no joy ,they came and impressed us as the community then moved out and once they move out the area then we are left to face our own reality.”

She also said she was not interested in what the minister had to say unless he provided a plan of action.

The neighbouring communities of Valhalla Park and Bishop Lavis have also seen a spike in several gang-related shootings since the beginning of last month.

In Bonteheuwel last week, scores of children witnessed a drive-by shooting while making their way to Boundary Primary School, where a suspected gangster was shot.

Another resident, Henriette Abrahams, accused the minister of disrespecting the community.

“It’s election time and people are dying, I’m tired of the politicians, we are trying to take our streets back but you have not done nothing. I have emailed you but I have gotten no response that’s disrespectful.”

The last engagement Cele had with Bonteheuwel residents was in September after residents took to the streets to protest gang violence.

Cele told residents that he did not intend to disrespect residents.

“I have no business disrespecting anyone especially the people I work with and who employed me in government. Just don’t shoot the messenger,” he said

Last year, the Total Shutdown group requested a “working class summit” to discuss the issues facing their neighbourhood at a formal workshop, and demanded an update to their appeal.

Cele, however, encouraged them to settle on a date and his office would take care of the details.