WATCH: Wentworth community, bikers ride against violence
These community members say they are tired of gang turf wars and drugs in the area and are calling on government to intervene.
FOLLOWING the spate of the shootings and killings allegedly due to the ongoing drug and gang turf wars in Wentworth, residents, community leaders, non-profit organisations and biker clubs banded together to host a motorcade calling for peace and an intervention on February 12.
The motorcade followed the recent memorandum hand-over to the Wentworth police station commander, Colonel Sinayo Mtshali, were the community appealed that police address the drug-dealing and gang violence.
Celeste King, who is one of the organisers of the motorcade, said the community would not be silent until their pleas were heard and answered.
“We are tired of the bloodshed that has been flowing in the community. The soil of our ground is red and we have had enough. The motorcade was to show that we are against the gang violence that is happening in our community. These killings are hurting us. How many more mothers’ tears must fall?” she said.
King, a youth activist, and the chairperson of the NPO, eThekwini South Youth in Business, said the youth were being affected.
ALSO READ: Wentworth residents to hand over memorandum for police to address gang violence
“If our children are not being pressured into getting entangled in these social-ills, then they are dying. It is so sad to see our youngsters dying like this and that the gang violence has even spread into schools.
“The government always says the youth are the future of the country, but what future do they have living in a community which is plagued with violence, and they cannot escape. We are crying out to the government, to our police minister and our president to please intervene,” she said.
King said she was grateful for the support.
“We had several community leaders and residents come out to support us, but also had various organisations from out of the area, as well the biker clubs come and stand in solidarity with us. They heard our plea for help, so why cant the government?
“Our message is simple – stop the violence, stop the killings and let us be our brothers and sisters keepers,” she said.
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