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Residents in Bellville South are living in fear amidst a spate of killings seemingly related to gang rivalry.
In the latest incident, a man, Angelo Lekay, was killed in a hail of bullets on Sunday morning.
This incident follows at least three murders in the area that have taken place since December.
TygerBurger understands the situation was sparked by the release of a man from prison at the end of last year.
The man promptly became the leader of a newly-established gang, called The Convicts.
Shortly thereafter The Convicts, mainly based around William Taylor Avenue and another group of individuals based close to Stilwaney Crescent started shooting at one another, allegedly over drug turf.
This has led to four murders, with Lekay’s killing over the weekend, being the latest. It’s unclear whether all those murdered were in gangs or were the intended victims.
In one specifically gruesome killing, a man called Ricardo Cupido’s body was found stuffed inside a rubbish bin on Stilwaney Road.
A witness who found the body and chooses to remain anonymous because of fear of victimisation, says Cupido’s shoes were still attached to his body and were sticking out at the top of the bin.
He says the community is living in fear. On days when shots are heard, Stilwaney Crescent, usually a bustling road with numerous pedestrians, becomes a ghost town.
“There are wendy houses with numerous holes in them like people are shooting at one another,” the witness says. “One day the shooting was so bad that over 120 bullet casings were counted.”
David Cecil, spokesperson for the Bellville South Community Policing Forum (BSCPF), says they know of the latest shooting incident.
“We condemn these shootings in the strongest terms and we have reached out to both the police and CPF Provincial Boards for assistance.”
He says they are asking all residents to not discard bullet casings found on any premises.
Mark Suker of the Bellville South Residents Association (BSRA) says they have been in talks with the local station commander, Lt Col Hannes Erwee, regarding the crisis and how to better the situation. He also called on residents with any information that could assist the investigation to contact the police. “We encourage the community to please contact the police’s Crime STOP on 08600 10111 to report crime.”
Mercia Kleinsmith, local ward councillor, says the gang fighting has had a ripple effect on the provision of services. “The violence makes it very difficult for service delivery providers to get into the area. They only come (to the area) when accompanied by police or law enforcement officers. This delays many services like burst pipes, electricity and overflowing sewers.
Ambulances don’t drive into the area, she says, but wait at the police station.
She asks the residents for patience when it comes to service delivery.
Questions were sent to the police for comment, but remain unanswered.
