In an effort to raise awareness against crime, Khayelitsha Community Policing Forums (CPFs), together with members from all four police stations in the area, marched through the streets appealing to people to stop killing each other.

The march, held on Saturday 24 October, was organised by CPF members from all Khayelitsha police stations, including Makhaza, Lingelethu-West, Harare and Khayelitsha. The march started at the Engen garage near Trek in Site C and proceeded to Makhaza Police Station in Harare. The theme of the march was “Silence the Guns”.

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An annual event

Khayelitsha Sub-District Commissioner Brig Mnoneleli Magobiyane described the march as an annual event. He said the aim was to encourage people to report any crime-related incidents to the nearest police station.

“We know that crime committed with firearms in Khayelitsha contributes significantly to the national crime statistics. People are shot and killed now and then. In most cases, we discovered that the firearms that are used belong to the family of the deceased. You find that the firearm owner died a long time ago and the family members don’t bring it back to the police station; instead, they use it in the wrong way,” explained Magobiyane, adding that liquor outlets trading after hours also has an impact on escalating crime.

He urged community members to work with police officers to curb crime.

CPF calls for community mobilisation

Khayelitsha Sub-District CPF chair Funeka Soldaat said the march aimed to mobilise the community to take a stand against the brutal killings of innocent people in the area.

“We have a problem of carjacking, street robberies, house robberies, murder and all other gun violence-related crimes. As CPFs, we are calling for all relevant community stakeholders to come on board to fight against crime. We are also encouraging the establishment of youth programmes to keep them off the streets,” said Soldaat.