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HIGH-POWERED: Some of the weapons and muti that was confiscated. Photos: Unathi Obose

LUCKY ESCAPE: Mpendulo George was allegedlly stabbed by gang members on his way home

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• MEC hails taxi bosses' brave stance on crime

MEMBERS of the Congress of Democratic Taxi Association (Codeta) in Site C, Khayelitsha, have intensified their crime prevention campaign in the township.

Yesterday morning they cornered 11 school pupils believed to be members of a gang and confiscated their weapons.

Taxi owner and leader of the crime prevention campaign James Tafa said: "We decided to intervene and assist the police in fighting gangsterism in our communities because we noticed that this trend (gangsterism) is growing and that it also affects the schools. This forces some learners to drop out at school."

Tafa said they were working together with various community stakeholders.

"After we catch them we sit down with their parents and find out what prompted the child to get involved in gangsterism and we reconcile the families," Tafa explained.

He stressed that they do not assault the children.

"At the moment we keep these things (the weapons) here in our office while we are collecting others. But we will hand them to the police later," Tafa said.

Members of Codeta were forced into action by the escalating crimes in the area.

Tafa said a scholar was stabbed by gang members on his way home. His back was injured during the attack, he said.

Tafa said they were investigating traditional healers who are giving the gang members muti and they want to interrogate them.

"We've heard that there are traditional healers who give them muti. One is in Site C, Makhaza, and two in town," he said.

"We need all three of them to come and explain why they give children muti.

"But we are still busy with our investigation because we definitely don't want to catch the wrong people."

The gang victim, a learner who was stabbed on his way home, Mpendulo George, 18, said: "I was going with a friend after school. I saw my friend running and when I looked back I saw about four guys opening knives," he said.

"They stabbed me in the back and ran away.

"They accused us of (being) Mavato members (another gang ) because of our hairstyles."

An angry parent, who identified herself as Mambhele, said: "I don't know what these children want, because we (parents) do everything to make them happy.

"I don't know if he (her son) has these things (referring to muti)."

She said she wanted the traditional healers providing the children with muti to be arrested.

Comments

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Sun May 19 17:48:08 SAST 2013 ::

Apr 20, 2012

Uppercut

A very thoughtful innitiative by taxi drivers and put your hands together for abomageza. well done guys!!
I believe the police were preoccupied with num-num with less time to protect the nation
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Apr 20, 2012

Sinudeity

Respect. Much respect to these dudes.
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Apr 20, 2012

LLCool

A really good innitiative, atlast we are not hearing of you (Taxi Drivers) assaulting passengers. But, the confisicated weapons must be handed to the police (though i think its not a good idea since they will go back to the hands of criminals). They must be handed before u use them to assault passengers.
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Apr 20, 2012

Mrazane

Good initiative but please tread carefully we don't want another Pagad.
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Apr 20, 2012

Papage

Yes Good work guys, please hand over the Gang members and their weapons to the police, before you use them against each other, like you normally do. Maybe we should start paying you rather police, good work
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Apr 20, 2012

sabza007

Step in the right direction. Keep it up, but don't mess it up.
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Apr 20, 2012

MommaC

Set a thief to catch a thief?

I don't know why the crime intelligence doesn't make use of taxi drivers, they know everyone's business and are on the streets all day.

..... oh yes, now I remember, the crime intelligence is too busy fighting political battles
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Apr 20, 2012

TheBig-T

good work taxi as
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Apr 20, 2012

ETYM

Keep it up taxi drivers u are doing the good job.Help the police,they are failing to do their job.
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Apr 20, 2012

skhokho21

Taxi drivers/owners have to take matters in their own hands in the best run City, ja nhe. Now ask your colleagues in Gugulethu, Nyanga Langa to do the same bcoz gangsterism is also on the rise in all the townships. Hand the weapons and these boys to the police, don`t even take them to your offices.
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