COUNCILLORS and residents of Eldorado Park, south of Joburg erected tents and slept at the police station on Sunday, 11 September.
They demanded that they be heard as they were tired of cleaning blood off the streets daily. The residents said they’ve had enough of crime.
In a space of two weeks, 13 people have been gunned down in the area.
Another person was shot on Monday, 12 September.
“It’s disheartening that all our efforts and pleas have fallen on deaf ears. Drugs and gangsterism are not our identity,” said Councillor Dwain Posonby.
He said community leaders and partners will meet to deliberate about a shutdown of the area, in the hope that relevant government departments would respond to their pleas.
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The residents said although the national police commissioner addressed their issues, they would camp at the station until what they discussed was implemented.
The recent shootings are suspected to be gang related. The residents said the shootings are more frequent lately.
Some residents said they feared reporting these crimes as they suspect some cops are working with the gangsters.
“We are seeking immediate intervention from the police. It is our constitutional right,” said one of the residents.
National police commissioner Lieutenant-General Fannie Masemola assured the residents that the cops will work with the community to fight crime.
He said that he will introduce a mobile police station to elevate the pressure on the Eldorado Police Station.
“We will make sure that in terms of visibility we are there, and in terms of investigating cases moving forward, I will put a team and brief the combating team going forward,” he said.
