Frustrated residents of Lavender Hill, Hillview, Village Hei

• Published date: 24 April 2024
• Author: Lillian Amos lillian.amos@acm.co.za
• Publication title: Southern Mail

Over the past few weeks, there have been almost 20 fatal shooting incidents where several people were shot and killed and several left injured

Chanting “We are sick and tired, no more violence”, the group made their way down Boniface Street through Village Heights on Sunday, April 21, where members of Pagad-G Force confronted gang members and told them to stop the violent shootings.

Pagad-G Force is a breakaway group of People Against Gangsterism and Drugs (PAGAD) and has been visiting areas where gang violence has spiked over the past few weeks, including Hanover Park and Beacon Valley.

During the march, residents told stories of having to sleep on the floor in fear of bullets ripping through their shacks or windows at night.

An elderly woman said the community is gripped with fear and are being held hostage in their homes.

“We can’t send our children to the shop, at 6 o’clock we have to be in our homes and the gangsters have said they will shoot anyone ‘vrek’. It is terrible living here and it seems the situation is only getting worse.”

The woman welcomed the visit by Pagad-G Force: “At least someone is doing something and we are very happy that they are here. We live in fear, our lives and our children’s lives are at stake and it seems that no one cares so I welcome them in our community and hope it will bring some change”.

During the march, brazen gangsters fired several shots in the area but the crowd stood firm after Pagad-G Force confronted the gangsters and pulled down CCTV equipment from a structure at an alleged gang stronghold.

The message from Pagad-G Force was clear – if the gangsters don’t stop...