In the past week, a boy, 17, from Tafelsig was stabbed during a stone throwing incident, police arrested a man for possession of drugs in Beacon Valley, a man was shot in a gang-related shooting in Eastridge, three men robbed a Bayview house after pretending to view it, two men hijacked a vehicle in Lentegeur and three men were arrested in Tafelsig for possession of a stolen vehicle.
Mitchell’s Plain police say stone throwing is still a problem in Tafelsig, with a 17-year-old boy having been stabbed during a recent incident.
On Wednesday August 11, at 5.20pm, Mitchell’s Plain SAPS received a complaint about stone throwing on the corner of Langeberg Avenue and AZ Berman Drive, Tafelsig.
It was alleged that two groups of youth had been throwing stones at each other. When police arrived, the youngsters ran away, but there were clear indications of public violence, including stones in the road and the number of calls received.
Police established that a boy, 17, had been stabbed during the chaos. Five people have subsequently been arrested.
Station commander of Mitchell’s Plain SAPS, Brigadier Cass Goolam, said they felt the arrests of these young people could not be viewed as a success because the community, specifically parents, had been engaged on several occasions at public meetings called to discuss this problem.
“It is the view of the station that the majority of parents in this issue are participants, both directly and indirectly in that they openly condone the stone throwing, protect the perpetrating children and hinder the police when we try to intervene,” said Brigadier Goolam.
“Only a few parents try to intervene, but are overwhelmed by the sheer number of participating youth and their parents.
“It is quite disheartening that as a result of the conduct and non-action of the parents, some of the youth now have criminal records of attempted murder and public violence, whereas this could have been jointly prevented by the police, the community and parents,” he said.
The offences, he added, were being investigated with a specific focus on linking the parents to the offences for prosecution.
“This behaviour can never and will never be tolerated. We call on civil society and civil organisations and parents to rescue our children by instilling positive behaviour beneficial to society,” said Brigadier Goolam.
In a separate incident, police arrested a man for possession of drugs in Beacon Valley on Saturday August 14.
The Mitchell’s Plain Crime Prevention Unit had received information about the selling of drugs at a house in Judo Street, Beacon Valley.
When police searched the premises, they found 254 packets of heroin and 13 packets of tik on the suspect. Police arrested a man, 28, who is a suspected gang member and faces a charge of dealing in drugs. He is expected to appear in court soon.
The previous evening, Friday August 13, a man had been shot in his head, shoulders and buttocks in Eastridge in a gang-related incident.
Mitchell’s Plain SAPS had received the call about the shooting in Bontebok Street, Eastridge, at about 9.20pm, but by the time police arrived at the scene, the victim had already been taken to hospital by private vehicle.
It is alleged that the victim had been chased by unknown men driving in a black VW Golf who had shot at him.
He ran into a yard where he collapsed, and later died as a result of his injuries. Police recovered five live rounds and two spent cartridges in the street, but no arrests have yet been made. Police believe the motive to be gang related.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the investigating officer Detective Sergeant Randal Davids of Mitchell’s Plain Serious and Violent Crimes Unit at 079 894 1511.
On Thursday August 12, police arrested three men shortly after they had viewed a house in Bayview and robbed it.
At about 12.30pm Strandfontein SAPS, assisted by Mitchell’s Plain and Lentegeur Crime Prevention Units responded to information about a house robbery in progress in Anker Crescent, Bayview.
The complainants had allegedly been held at gun-point by men pretending to be interested in viewing the house. The victims were robbed but speedy response by SAPS led to the arrest of three men and the recovery of flat screen TVs, laptops, cellphones, an iPad, cash and wallets which had been stolen.
The three men, aged 23, 30, 31, face charges of house robbery and are believed to be linked to other house robberies in Gugulethu and Elsies River. They were due to appear in court on Monday August 16.
In an unrelated case, police also arrested two men for the possession of a hijacked motor vehicle.
On Tuesday August 10 at 12:55pm Mitchell’s Plain Crime Prevention Unit members received information about a vehicle that had been hijacked in Lentegeur.
Upon arrival at the scene in Franschoek Street, Tafelsig, police saw a red Opel Corsa with registration CF 55676 which the suspects were busy stripping. Police arrested two men aged 20 and 31 who face charges relating to the possession of a hijacked motor vehicle. They have appeared in court.
In another motor vehicle-related case, police arrested three men who were in possession of a car which had been reported stolen in Harare.
On Monday August 9 at 8.15pm Mitchell’s Plain Crime Prevention Unit members spotted a suspicious blue Toyota Tazz with reg CF 111-546 driving over a red traffic light at Spine Road, Tafelsig.
When police tested and stopped the vehicle in Kontoer Street, Tafelsig, they discovered that the vehicle had been stolen in Harare. Police arrested three men aged 32, 35, and 38. The suspects face charges relating to the possession of a presumed stolen motor vehicle and have appeared in court.