From the news desk

Grassy Park CPF to engage residents on gang violence

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The Grassy Park Community Police Forum in its determination to prevent gangsterism and drugs from spreading is planning a new campaign titled, #GangsterismSHALLfall. The rationale behind the change of language in the title of the campaign is based on the determination of residence that gangsterism will eventually be eradicated. It comes on the heels of the recently launched #GangsterismMustFall, organized by a group of activists from various gang ridden communities, fed up with gang related crime.

Philip Bam, chairperson of the Grassy Park Community Police Forum, is calling upon all parents, faith leaders, school leadership, and government bodies to get involved with this campaign.

“This is not a matter of it being a wish, it is [instead] a matter of us doing everything in our power to make sure that gangsterism must not have the appeal that it currently has,” Bam urged.

Campaign organizers are requesting the assistance of community members in planning strategies toward achieving the ultimate goal of eradicating the area of gangsterism.

“We want the community to work together on the plan, that is the only way that this [campaign] can be successful,” Bam stated.

The campaign will begin with an awareness project in schools.

Campaign organizers are hoping to attract the attention of community members in developing ideas that will aim to create “mind-power” within children in an attempt to educate the youth about the necessity to say no to drugs and gangsterism.

Bam asserted that he believes “that mind-power is greater than gun-power”.

The campaign also hopes to educate the youth about the consequences of gangsterism and drugs, and encourage within them the will to work toward a constructive future.

Grassy Park, an area notorious with gang violence, is one of the many areas which have been victim to gang related deaths. In Cape Town alone, between 15 November and 15 December, 13 deaths occurred as a result of gang rivalry.

The untimely death of Jaden Smith, in Parkhood Estate, has inspired the community of Grassy Park to eradicate gang activity and drugs.

“We need to deal with gangsterism in a way that will be more effective than what we have been doing,” Bam concluded.

The #GangsterismSHALLfall campaign is calling on community members to attend a community meeting on the February 23, at the Fairview primary school, in 1st avenue Grass Park.

VOC (Thakira Desai)


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