It has been a bloody start to August for the community of Khayamandi with local police currently investigating five murders.
Sunday 3 August was a particularly bloody day. Responding to a complaint about a robbery, police arrived at Watergang at 06:40 to find an unknown man lying on his back on the ground.
Captain Nathalie Martin, spokesperson for Stellenbosch police, said the victim had multiple injuries to the head and face. “The ambulance personnel declared the victim dead on the scene. No arrests have been made in connection with this case.”
Later that morning police were in Nkanini around 08:50 and found a man lying outside his house. “This victim had a stab wound to the left side of his chest and was declared dead by ambulance personnel. Two suspects were arrested and are in custody.”
That afternoon police were called to Stellenbosch Hospital to attend to a suspected murder. Arriving at the hospital around 13:00, medical personnel informed officers that a man had come to the facility around 22:30 the day before (Saturday 2 August), with a stab wound to the head, was admitted and died on Sunday. No arrests have been made.
The bloodshed continued into the working week. On Monday 4 August police arrived in Second Avenue, Khayamandi, where community members directed them to a shack where they found a woman lying on the floor with no sign of life. Medical personnel declared her dead on the scene and noted a gunshot wound to the left arm. No arrests have been made.
On Wednesday morning (6 August), police received a complaint of a shooting in Zone J. They arrived at an address in Bassi Street to find an unknown man lying face down, “unresponsive with gunshot wounds to the body”, Martin related. “Ambulance personnel declared the victim dead on the scene.”
According to members of the Khayamandi Community Policing Forum (CPF) residents are living in fear with many of the elderly locking themselves in their homes during the day. CPF members say residents are hesitant to share information with the police out of fear as their safety cannot be guaranteed.
“The community needs more education to prevent crime. People won’t join the CPF in numbers. They are scared to be exposed to criminals and the most dangerous criminals are those busy with extortion. Instead of this crime decreasing it is increasing every day and these criminals are recruiting the young boys,” a CPF member told Eikestadnuus.
The community safety structure believes perpetrators who are released to their parents care by the courts, are part of the problem, as the parents do not reprimand them. “There is no visible difference [in the behaviour], instead they become heroes and nothing stops them from continuing to commit crime. Regular, unannounced random searches at schools is important to deter gangsterism in schools,” a member urged.
In a bid to take action, a recent prayer session was held to raise awareness focusing how residents can start engaging safely to combat crime. The CPF believes a joint venture between municipal law enforcement, the police, churches and community groups is needed to bring about change and decelerate crime in Khayamandi.
“Stellenbosch police calls on the community to support efforts to combat murder and violent crimes in Khayamandi. The police are deeply concerned about the ongoing loss of life in our communities. These are not just statistics; behind every murder is a family in pain or a child without a parent. We cannot fight this crisis alone,” Martin said.
Local police urged residents to assist with the “senseless killings”. “Speak out when you know something. Silence protects criminals,” Martin added.
She said cooperating with investigations saves lives. “Reject violence as a way of solving tensions; choose peace. Together we can bring murderers to justice, prevent future killings and create a safer, more peaceful society.”
• Contact Stellenbosch police on 021 809 5012/15 or 082 522 1912.
