While Operation Fiela brought some relief to the hostile situation in Manenberg on Thursday, residents feel the crackdown will not be effective in curbing violent gang shootings in the long-term. Manenberg was flooded with police, metro police and army officials, as the crime operation was rolled out in the early hours of this morning.

Chairperson of the Manenberg Safety Forum, Rugshanda Pascoe believes the operation could have been more effective if authorities met with the forum beforehand to identify the needs of the community as gang violence intensifies.

“The gangs knew that the army was coming. The disregard from government, not acknowledging our efforts in the community is disheartening. The army won’t be here forever. We will have to bare the brunt long after they leave,” Pascoe said.

Parents and children on their way to work and school were met with chaos, as normal activity was disrupted on Thursday morning. On Facebook, residents claimed the police were not targeting the right homes and that many gangsters had been able to rid themselves of illegal firearms.

“We can’t operate like this. Police were just conducting random raids, while accompanied by media to show that they are actually doing something. The army officials entered a school property and the pupils were afraid, don’t they understand that this is a traumatised community. We can’t just have the army come out here for a few hours, show visibility and then leave. Gangsters are already getting away with too much,” she continued.

SAPS said the widescale operation focused on drugs, illegal firearms and gangsterism amongst a host of other criminal activities.

According to Pascoe, the forum has requested to meet with local or national government to provide guidance on processes they plan to take in Manenberg.

“We are working in the streets. We know exactly what is happening and we want to guide them. Government needs to work with us in this community as opposed to against us,” Pascoe added.

As the community of Manenberg still stood still on Thursday morning after the operation swept in, Pascoe said there is a need to restore the once positive and unified community as they take up the fight to eradicate gangsters.

“Our people have reached a point that if you are shot in the crossfire and they don’t necessarily like you, they will rejoice in your misfortune. We cannot re-build our community on these principles. Everything in this community is negative and sometimes it seems as though this is how our political leaders want to keep it.

“So, we call on our fellow brothers and sisters instead, even those from the private sector. If you can come to our community and help us re-build it in a positive light, please come forward. Our children, our people need the help now more than ever,” Pascoe said.

The Forum has also called out to the broader community for support as they plan to march to Parliament on the 4thJune 2015, as part of what they have called “Operation Clean Up”. VOC (Ra’eesah Isaacs)