{"id":54656,"date":"2022-02-08T06:01:32","date_gmt":"2022-02-08T04:01:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/park-brings-sense-of-hope-20220207\/"},"modified":"2025-03-19T18:57:42","modified_gmt":"2025-03-19T16:57:42","slug":"park-brings-sense-of-hope-20220207","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/park-brings-sense-of-hope-20220207\/","title":{"rendered":"Park brings sense of hope"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The opening of a \u201cgang-free zone\u201d park in Libra Road in Ocean View has given residents hope that their children will be safe from gang violence in the area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Saturday 5 February, PR Councillor Aslam Richards opened the park in memory of three young children who lost their lives during gang crossfire in the community two years ago. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of those victims, Emaan Solomons, was onl<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ocean View families arrived in their numbers to enjoy the new gang-free park opened on Saturday 5 February. Gang members has reportedly agreed to stay out of the park. PHOTO: natasha bezuidenhout<\/div>\n
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Children enjoying the new park that opened in Ocean View on Saturday 5 February.PHOTO: natasha bezuidenhout<\/div>\n
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Children queuing for party packs that was handed out at the new gang-free zone park in Ocean View.PHOTO: natasha bezuidenhout<\/div>\n
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A new gang-free park was opened in Ocean View on Saturday 5 February. The park is in memory of six-month-old Zhania, Aqeel Davids (9) and Emaan Solomons (7) who lost their lives in separate gang-related shootings. PHOTO: natasha bezuidenhouT<\/div>\n
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y seven years old when she was shot dead in February 2020. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Richards says all parks in Ocean View are rundown. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis park is notorious; it is right in the centre of different gangs, so this is the first place I would want to place a park. Emaan, I knew the little girl because my mom stays in the same road. She lost her life just two doors down the road. If this park was here, then she would have been playing here. There is no safe space for our children.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Richards says the park is also in memory of baby Zhania Robyn (6), and Aqeel Davids (9) who lost their lives in separate gang-related incidents. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe park is dedicated to them, to create a safe space so that it won\u2019t happen to another parent because, as a parent myself, I can feel for those parents.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zhania\u2019s mother, Cindy, says protecting children with a safe space is vital. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am baby Zhania\u2019s mom. It\u2019s very nice what Aslam is doing because there is nothing else like this. It can prevent what happened to my child as well as Emaan and Aqeel. I know it was different circumstances but this is to protect the children and that\u2019s the most important aspect.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Richards says local gangs have come to an agreement to stay out of the parks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m happy that the local gangs agreed that they are going to stay out of the parks.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that parks have, sadly, been taken over by gangs which has left children without a safe space. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur parks are basically taken over by gangs, so parents are telling their children not to go into the parks because it\u2019s dangerous. Children are playing on street corners. When there is gang activity and if anything happens, they are caught in the crossfire.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds that the whole community came together to assist with creating the safe space. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe had so much community involvement and I would like to thank everybody who came along and came to help paint. The whole community is really out in their numbers today because this is needed.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Richards says an important feature in the park is that all emergency contact numbers of local police are readily available. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe park has the emergency numbers inside the park; the ambulance, the fire brigade, and the police numbers. The children can actually learn while they are playing.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resident Margaret Baker says she is happy to see the new park. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy heart goes out to children. To see the little ones living in fear like this. It\u2019s not nice, especially for children. I\u2019m so proud that they did something like this on this piece of land. When my grandson hears gunshots, he runs in and that\u2019s how we keep them inside.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resident Adiela Smith says the new space will, hopefully, be safe for children to play. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe would like this to be a safe space for the children because these are the areas where gangsters hang out and these are the places where shootings are happening.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Glancing at the children on the playground, Smith says no more children should be lost to gang violence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese are children that need to grow up and there are pictures of children who have been taken away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe hope and pray that this is going to be safe for the children and all the other areas of Ocean View, not just this area. At the end of the day, the whole Ocean View needs this.\u201d <\/s1><\/function><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The opening of a \u201cgang-free zone\u201d park in Libra Road in Ocean View has given residents hope that their children will be safe from gang violence in the 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new gang-free park was opened in Ocean View on Saturday 5 February. The park is in memory of six-month-old Zhania, Aqeel Davids (9) and Emaan Solomons (7) who lost their lives in separate gang-related shootings. 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