Police in Manenberg say the area is now saturated with policemen, metro police, law enforcement officers as well as other crime prevention units. Visibility has been beefed up after a deadly wave of gang related murders two weeks, which has forced many Muslim residents to stay home for Taraweeh.

Manenberg SAPS spokesperson Lieutenant Ian Bennett said the area has been relatively quiet since the police’s presence in the community. Residents are still tense, as violence is sporadic. Bennett confirmed the violence has affected some activities , including night time prayers during the month of Ramadan.

“There have been more than four deaths recorded as gang related and two other incidences. Two double murders that happened on Tuesday was not gang related but were robberies gone wrong,” said Bennett.

He said police presence is not the only solution to gang violence, as there needs to be other ways in combating criminal activity.

“We need to be educating our youth and keep them off the road as well as get them aftercare activity to develop their skills in terms of dealing with issues of conflict and making proper decisions,” Bennett said.

Although the gang violence is prevalent within the area at the present moment, there are holiday programmes to hopefully attract young people and to keep them occupied with positive things. VOC (Imogen Vollenhoven)