Residents not impressed by Cele’s visit

Police Minister Bheki Cele did not receive the warm welcome he may have been expecting from residents of Beacon Valley in Mitchells Plain, Cape Town, this week

People accused the minister of political grandstanding as his visit comes after a number of shootings in the area.

Residents tried to speak to Cele about a concrete plan to deal with the scourge of violence in communities in the Cape metro.

Resident Kevin Abrahams said parents feared for their children’s lives. “We expected the minister to come. None of the children, who witnessed this shooting, received any counselling. It’s too late for the minister to come and visit our community. What do they take our community for?

“A few weeks ago, four children died in Nyanga in a sinkhole. Everyone visited the community, even the president,” he said.

Abrahams said the police needed to be beefed up. “We see every day what is happening in this community. We live under these conditions. We want them to allocate proper spaces for our children. The government is five days late,” he said.

Community activist Sulyman Stellenboom, of Bread not Bullets, said he was disappointed with Cele’s visit. “He treats Mitchells Plain as a catwalk. Our children are being shot and these ministers do not have a plan. Our youth are dying like flies. I have no respect for Cele.”

Stellenboom’s son died some years ago and he has not received any answers.

The area has seen two mass shootings in the space of two days.

Ten people were shot and six died. Five teenagers were shot during a drive-by shooting on Thursday, two of whom died.

On Saturday, five men were shot, four were killed.

Police have increased visibility and 50 municipal law enforcement officers have been deployed.

Juliana Petersen’s son was among the five teens shot. He was shot in the foot and managed to escape. Petersen said her son feared for his life.

“I was sitting at my neighbour, having tea. I heard the first gunshot and ran out. I was unaware that it would be one of my sons or his friends. Then I saw everyone standing outside and I started running. I saw him [son] and he said he was shot in his foot.”

Cele said he was open to engage with residents. – News24 Wire

Cele treats Mitchells Plain as a catwalk. Our children are being shot and these ministers do not have a plan.

Sulyman Stellenboom Resident