Families are being forced to flee their homes in the Worcester suburbs of Avian Park and River View‚ as gang violence in the area reaches epic proportions.
According to police‚ at least nine homes have been torched. Community members say these homes belong to relatives of gangsters. As a result‚ residents have fled their homes‚ for fear that they might be the next target.
The violence in the Western Cape farming town has risen to such levels that on Monday night alone there were two murders and four attempted murders in Avian Park.
“The gangs are not only fighting among themselves‚ they are also fighting the parents and families of other gangsters‚” said a resident who works in the community.
“I’ve seen lots of new houses that have been damaged‚ stoned and burned.”
“Most of the people are not in their houses. They have fled to family members and to the farms where people don’t know them.”
Two weeks ago a video emerged of a man being chased and gunned down in the area in what is believed to be a gang-related incident.
The gangs involved in the war include the Fast Guns‚ the Hard Livings and Junior Cisko Yakkies.
Additional police were deployed to the area on Tuesday “to deal with the volatile situation”‚ police spokesman Captain FC van Wyk said.
Roads were closed and traffic rerouted as the SAPS Stabilisation Unit and the Public Order Policing unit went into the area.
“Our members will stay in the area to monitor the situation and until everything has stabilised.”
Safety and security MEC Dan Plato visited the area yesterday and met with the community at the Breede River High School.
The community worker‚ who has worked with gangs in the area for over 11 years‚ said that the community was “fed up” and “humiliated” because innocent people had been killed.
She said that the situation had calmed down since the arrival of the police.
“It’s also calmed down now because it’s still early and it’s very hot‚ but we’re expecting anything [to happen]‚” she said.
Western Cape families flee gang violence
Families are being forced to flee their homes in the Worcester suburbs of Avian Park and River View‚ as gang violence in the area reaches epic proportions.
According to police‚ at least nine homes have been torched. Community members say these homes belong to relatives of gangsters. As a result‚ residents have fled their homes‚ for fear that they might be the next target.
The violence in the Western Cape farming town has risen to such levels that on Monday night alone there were two murders and four attempted murders in Avian Park.
“The gangs are not only fighting among themselves‚ they are also fighting the parents and families of other gangsters‚” said a resident who works in the community.
“I’ve seen lots of new houses that have been damaged‚ stoned and burned.”
“Most of the people are not in their houses. They have fled to family members and to the farms where people don’t know them.”
Two weeks ago a video emerged of a man being chased and gunned down in the area in what is believed to be a gang-related incident.
The gangs involved in the war include the Fast Guns‚ the Hard Livings and Junior Cisko Yakkies.
Additional police were deployed to the area on Tuesday “to deal with the volatile situation”‚ police spokesman Captain FC van Wyk said.
Roads were closed and traffic rerouted as the SAPS Stabilisation Unit and the Public Order Policing unit went into the area.
“Our members will stay in the area to monitor the situation and until everything has stabilised.”
Safety and security MEC Dan Plato visited the area yesterday and met with the community at the Breede River High School.
The community worker‚ who has worked with gangs in the area for over 11 years‚ said that the community was “fed up” and “humiliated” because innocent people had been killed.
She said that the situation had calmed down since the arrival of the police.
“It’s also calmed down now because it’s still early and it’s very hot‚ but we’re expecting anything [to happen]‚” she said.
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