Outraged Lentegeur residents are taking back their community in a fight against on-going gang violence that has shed the blood of tons of railway commuters along Lentegeur railway station.

“There has been a spat of shootings in the area. We believe that it is related to gang violence that often congregate around various drug houses in Woodlands and Lentegeur,” says Denzil Koetze, the chairperson of the Lentegeur West sub-forum of the Community Police Forum (CPF).

After frequent shootings in the area, residents say they have no choice but to fight back. The Lentegeur Community Police Forum (CPF) has mobilized the affected streets situated close to the railway. The activity is congested along Woodlands and Lentegeur that has become infamous for its gang warfare, arm robbery and murder leaving commuters rattled with fear.

“This is a popular escape route for robbers, murders, gang members and rapists,” says Koetzee.

Up in arms about the crime infested areas, members of the community have decided to take action by assisting the police. A patrolling schedule commences at 5am in which members are stationed along the railway.

“It needs to end that members of the community are held hostage by the gang members and drug dealers. They are the minority. The community has had enough they want to mobilize with the police to stop the on-going violence that makes them prey of these crimes,” says Koetzee.

The Lentegeur CPF will be hosting a community safety workshop on Tuesday between 9am and 3pm at Lentegeur Police Station.

“There have been many new members of the CPF elected in 8 of 9 precincts. We would like to introduce them to the community and what is expected of them,” says Lentegeur CPF chairperson Gamiet Cassiem. VOC (Nailah Cornelissen)