YET another violent act has rocked the community of Wentworth, when a 21-year-old was allegedly shot multiple times during a drive-by shooting on Saturday, 16 January. This follows just days after the shooting of an 18-year-old at an Austerville Drive garage last week, on Sunday, 10 January.
According to Wentworth SAPS communication officer, Lt Mabaso Gumede, members of the crime prevention unit received a complaint of a shooting in progress in Wolraad Road. Constables, Omar Saib, Nthutuko Cele and Ntombifuthi Mbongwa made their way to the address where they were approached by a large crowd of bystanders who told them a 21-year-old man was shot and had already been transported to a nearby hospital. He was reported to still be in hospital.
Witnesses to the shooting reported that the victim was talking to his girlfriend on the road when a silver vehicle pulled up to next to him and opened fire. The unknown gunmen fled the scene.
Crime scene experts were called to the scene, where eight spent cartridges were found. Ward councillor, Aubrey Snyman said decisions and solutions are need to be thought of among the community leaders to eradicate this problem of violence. “People are not allowing the law to take place. The problem is people don’t want to give information to the police that could help prevent a shooting and deaths. This community is experiencing a ripple effect, where there is a belief that one has to take law into their own hands. We are failing ourselves by doing that because innocent lives are lost, as families become part of that ripple effect,” said cllr Snyman.
He urges people to gather whatever information they can and hand it over to the police. If they do not get any satisfaction from their local police he urged them go higher up the chain of command and report it to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID). “We need to become the solution, we need to have faith that the community can change for the better,” he added.
Members of the public can give information anonymously by contacting Wentworth SAPS on 031-4516240/6241/6242, Crime Stop on 0860010111 or 10111.
To contact IPID, call 031-310-1300 or 035-772-3022.
