A voice note and text messages have been making the rounds on social media this morning, 19 July, warning the public to avoid West Village at all costs.
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John Barnardt, a community leader in the area, has stated that the voice message is a complete fabrication. It is, then, according to John, untrue that zama zamas (illegal immigrants) are roaming West Village with AK47s and other weapons. It is also untrue that they have been shooting at the public or the police.
Gary Badenhorst, the chairperson of West Village’s Neighbourhood Watch, noted that the police conducted a raid on a nearby informal settlement in the morning, and about 20 to 30 residents ran to West Village to hide in the fields. He also noted that there had been a police presence over the past three days to ensure the area is safe, and that the police and Neighbourhood Watch are currently patrolling the streets.
Gary also wanted to emphasise that West Village is safe for people to enter into.
The public is advised to make sure about the reliability of messages of this kind being spread across social media before believing or sharing them. Local neighbourhood watches, Community Policing Forums, police and ward councillors can be contacted to verify the validity of these warnings.
