Residents of Eldorado Park are outraged by the ongoing violence that continues to plague the community, despite the recent deployment of the army.
Image: Timothy Bernard Independent Neswpapers
As the manhunt for the people responsible for yet another mass shooting in Eldorado Park continues, residents and community leaders are calling for sustained efforts in rooting out criminality in the area.
At the weekend a shooting during a social gathering left two dead and six injured.
The latest incident has served to reignite community fears against gang violence and other crime elements in the area.
Among the interventions sought by some community leaders are weekend and late-night curfews and continued army presence.
Keith Duarte, a local activist, welcomed the recent deployment of the South African National Defense Force (SANDF), but called for a stronger army presence to deter criminals from their ways.
"The community is disappointed because the army was deployed, and that was only for one day. We need the army at night. We need curfews, especially on weekends, because most of the shootings happen on the weekend and at night," Duarte stated.
According to South African Police Service spokesperson Brenda Muridili, the incident occurred on Saturday night when eight gunmen entered a yard where people had gathered and began shooting randomly before fleeing the scene.
National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola has assured residents from areas affected by crime and gang violence that the work of the army and the police in affected communities will yield improved results.
Image: SAPS
The recent shooting follows another incident in Westbury two weeks ago, where two lives were lost in a similar act of violence. Both Eldorado Park and Westbury have been identified as hotspots for gang-related crime in Gauteng, prompting the deployment of the SANDF to provide relief and restore order.
Peter Rafferty, a Eldorado Park councilor candidate for the African Independent Congress (AIC), expressed his outrage at the shooting, stating, "The recent deployment of the army in Eldorado Park reflects the seriousness of the security challenges our communities face. However, the presence of the army must translate into intensified and sustained efforts to remove illegal firearms from our streets and the dismantling of criminal networks to ensure that those who are responsible for terrorising our communities are brought to justice."
Duarte further called for community-wide participation, saying the recent arrests that were effected last week were due to the assistance of the community .
"The work of the army goes hand in hand with the community. We had anticipated working with the police, but unfortunately, they are not prepared to work with us. As activists, we also want to work with the army. It would be healthier if we had a working relationship with the army," he added.
On Sunday, in a joint media briefing, National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola explained that the SANDF deployment, alongside police, is designed to stabilise priority crime hotspot areas identified through intelligence and crime analysis.
“With careful planning, intelligence and research, while listening to the concerns of citizens across the country, the intervention will focus on hotspot areas including, but not limited to, Free State, Gauteng, North West, Western Cape and Eastern Cape,” Masemola stated.
ActionSA leader, Herman Mashaba said it was disappointing that the Eldorado Park incident took place after soldiers arrived for deployment in the community, specifically to support crime prevention and responding to criminal elements.
"Endemic violence and proliferation of drugs continue to destroy families and steal hope for a better future for youth across many townships across. The reign of terror has to end."
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