Sparked by a spate of gang killings in Cape Town, activists, Fight Against Crime SA (Facsa) believes cops are being overwhelmed and outgunned.
The recent killings of two alleged gang bosses – one right outside Brackenfell Police Station and the other one near the entrance of Fanie Theron Primary school in Kraaifontein – grabbed headlines and left communities feeling vulnerable.
In a statement from Facsa, the organisation writes: “This violence is out of control with the recent bloodbath due to escalation of the gang-related deaths. The elimination of gang leaders has left a power vacuum, and now these criminals are more brazen than ever.
The organisation holds that gangsterism and gang wars must be treated as terrorism and is calling for military intervention and a fully integrated government response specifically tasked with gangsterism.
“We’ve been working directly with the police at senior levels, but the police alone cannot fight this war.
“We call on the government to reinforce our police service with the necessary investigation capacity, intelligence, and manpower.
“Failing this, Facsa calls for a shutdown on the Cape Flats until a concrete plan is put forward by the government to deal with the gang violence or terrorism as Facsa has declared it; the communities have played their part; when will the government do their part?”
