Victims of gang violence remembered in Eldos

ActionSA hosted a candle light vigil outside the Eldorado Park Police Station of Friday afternoon last week.

The aim was to remember victims of gang violence which has resurfaced in the past weeks in the area.

It was reported that last weekend three young men lost their lives while others were rushed to hospital following a shootout in Eldos and Westbury.

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The issue of gang violence and drugs has been going on for years in these areas and has reignited calls for more resources to be deployed by national government to help keep these communities safe.

The vigils were hosted at other police stations as well including Sophiatown Police Station and were led by ActionSA Gauteng Provincial Chairperson, Funzi Ngobeni and Joburg Regional Chairperson, Emma More.

The aim was to draw attention to the scourge of gang violence while calling for peace to prevail in these communities. Bishop Dalton Adams, leader of the ACDP also joined the vigil in Westbury.

“Unfortunately government has absconded from its mandate to serve and protect us, they have failed us dismally and it is evident that they are incapable of fulfilling their responsibilities,” Dereleen James, a resident of Eldorado Park and member of ActionSA said.

“This has been proven on several occasions as all three spheres have visited our communities with the hope of addressing the many social ills that contributes to where we find ourselves.”

Several imbizos have been held to try and combat the issue of drugs and gang violence with the latest one being a few months ago in Westbury attended by Police Minister Bheki Cele and other government officials from provincial and national level.

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Despite the deployment of various police units including the Tactical Response Team and National Intervention Unit in Westbury, the violence has not stopped.

The latest reported incident is a drive-by shooting in Westbury this past weekend which reportedly claimed a life of a police officer. James said this latest incident reflects the seriousness of the issue of gang violence and drugs in these communities.

“Our condolences to the family of the late Sgt Morris who was gunned down in Westbury this past weekend. It’s now up to us as political parties, stakeholders and religious leaders to put our heads together and come up with a sustainable strategy that will divert the acts of the perpetrators and bring healing to families of victims,” James said.

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She added that as ActionSA, they have taken a decision to support communities in Gauteng and Western Cape affected by drugs and gang violence. These activations extended to Orlando Police Station, Moroka, Sophiatown, Ennerdale, Langlaagte and several others in the Western Cape.