The Minister of Social Development, Albert Fritz, and the Minister of Community Safety, Alan Winde, today expressed their anger, following a gang-related shooting incident in Ravensmead on Saturday, which saw the loss of one community member and four wounded minors.
The deceased, Ferdie Samuels aged 25, was standing outside when a car with an unknown registration number stopped in front of him and opened fire. The children, upon hearing the noise, ran outside and were caught in the cross fire. The suspect re-entered his vehicle and fled the scene.
Minister Winde said, “Today our hearts and minds are with the entire Ravensmead community and especially with the four young children who were wounded in this heinous crime. We stand with the community of Ravensmead, who have suffered a tragic attack at the hands of a callous, faceless perpetrator. We cannot allow gangsterism to hold our society hostage and this criminal must be caught. We will track this case to ensure the SAPS does all that it can to bring justice for Ravensmead.”
Minister Winde continued: “Children have become too afraid to play outside, fearing they might be the target of a gangster’s bullet. There are communities in our country in which these fears are justified. While we do not have the mandate over SAPS, and call on the national government to bolster its role in protecting our people, we can and have embarked on a campaign to abolish illegal guns from our communities by offering a substantial reward for positive information.”
“I urge all residents to report where illegal firearms are being stored in their communities so that we can work with the police to have them removed. By dialling 078 330 9333, residents will be contributing to removing an illegal firearm form their area. Not only will this help in ensuring that the firearm does not claim another victim, but when the police successfully confiscate the illegal firearm, the resident who reported it will receive R10 000 from the Western Cape Department of Community Safety.”
At the #SaferWesternCapeConference, it was reported that gang violence is the highest contributor to murder in Ravensmead, Mitchells Plain, Bishop Lavis, Philippi, Delft, and Kraaifontein. Provincial police commissioner Khombinkosi Jula stated the primary motives for murder for the 2017/2018 period were, 22% gang-related, 13.2% argument-related, 8.1% robbery-related, 5.1% due to domestic violence and 1.2% taxi violence-related.
MEC Fritz said, “In response to the Ravensmead shootings, the DSD Metro North region has deployed three after-hour social workers. DSD will continue to extend its support to the victims and families while our partner NGO, Badisa, activates its services. The Department will then track the psycho-social support services provided by Badisa to the victims and their families to ensure that the necessary sustained support is offered.”
MEC Winde added: “While I call on SAPS to make a swift arrest so that our communities are no longer threatened by this thug, residents should please share any information about this incident with the police. It is only through active community participation, and us working together, that the fight against gangsterism and crime in general can be won.”
The Western Cape Government, through its commitment to transversal governance, will continue fighting crime through innovative programmes and providing psycho-social support services.
Cayla Ann Tomás Murray
Spokesperson for Minister Albert Fritz
Tel: 021 483 9217
Cell: 064 121 7959
Email: Cayla.mu@gmail.com
Or
Media Enquiries:
Marcellino Martin
Spokesperson for Minister Alan Winde
082 721 3362 (m)
021 483 3873 (o)