Gang activity in Paarl East has left parents and pupils concerned for their safety, the community policing forum head in the Winelands area said on Wednesday.

James Pedro said the predicament was that schools were not safe anymore because children were being recruited into gangs from Grade 8.

Three cars arrived at the Paulus Joubert Secondary School on Tuesday, looking for “gang members”, he said.

“The principal phoned police and they said keep the children in the school. They had to lock the gates.

“It is getting out of hand because there is no control of the gangsters. How are kids supposed to learn?”

They planned to mobilise parents next term to increase their involvement in protecting pupils at school.

A 19-year-old man was shot dead in Amstelhof Avenue, Paarl East, on Monday night.

Western Cape police could not confirm allegations that it was gang-related.

Provincial education department spokesperson Millicent Merton said recent gang violence had resulted in great unrest in the areas around Paulus Joubert Secondary School and primary schools including Amstelhof Primary.

Police increased their visibility in the area on Tuesday as a result.

“Some parents also waited outside the school to escort their children home. Learners at the school wrote tests and the school was dismissed at the usual time.”

Police would continue their patrols on Wednesday.

Merton said the secondary school kept the district office and Safe Schools programme informed of all incidents.