Teenage girl killed in gang crossfire: DA and ANC play politics while Western Cape children suffer
19 April 2024
The Western Cape is experiencing a level of gang-related violence that is unprecedented in the 30 years of democracy.
Not only is the violence out of control, but it is spilling out of traditionally gang-ravaged communities. In the last 24 hours two people tragically lost their lives in separate incidents in Belgravia, a relatively middle-class suburb of Athlone – including an entirely innocent Grade 11 girl who was tragically killed in gang crossfire this afternoon.
Neither the national police force nor the considerable crime fighting resources of the province and City of Cape Town are having any impact.
Instead, it is volunteers who join neighbourhood watches and other anti-crime initiatives, who do most of the work, call the ambulances, pick up the bodies and reassure traumatised members of communities that they are not on their own.