Residents of Steadville in Ladysmith, northern KwaZulu-Natal, are pleading with the authorities to save them from gang violence in their village.
The have made their appeal to the MEC for community safety and liaison, Bheki Cele.
Two weeks ago a pensioner was killed and on Monday a young man was attacked by thugs in the area. With the Easter weekend on their doorstep, the residents fear the violence will increase.
"We want Cele to end this violence. We have lost faith in the police. Every night we hear gunfire. It's going to be worse this weekend," said a community spokesman.
Since 1999, the Peter Ndawo and Mangete Zwane gangs have terrorised the area. Many people have been killed by the gangs, a village elder said. After Ndawo died in 2003, and Zwane in 2005, the violence subsided. But now the gangs have re-emerged .
A provincial police spokesman, Phindile Radebe, said the number of police in the area had been increased.
"We need the community's help to arrest these gang members," she said. - Mhlaba Memela
'Gang terror must end now'
Residents of Steadville in Ladysmith, northern KwaZulu-Natal, are pleading with the authorities to save them from gang violence in their village.
The have made their appeal to the MEC for community safety and liaison, Bheki Cele.
Two weeks ago a pensioner was killed and on Monday a young man was attacked by thugs in the area. With the Easter weekend on their doorstep, the residents fear the violence will increase.
"We want Cele to end this violence. We have lost faith in the police. Every night we hear gunfire. It's going to be worse this weekend," said a community spokesman.
Since 1999, the Peter Ndawo and Mangete Zwane gangs have terrorised the area. Many people have been killed by the gangs, a village elder said. After Ndawo died in 2003, and Zwane in 2005, the violence subsided. But now the gangs have re-emerged .
A provincial police spokesman, Phindile Radebe, said the number of police in the area had been increased.
"We need the community's help to arrest these gang members," she said. - Mhlaba Memela
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