ActionSA vows to address issues of gang violence in Eldorado Park and Westbury

By: Tunicia Phillips and Natasha Archary

ActionSA has vowed to put together a plan to address the issues of gang violence plaguing Eldorado Park and Westbury.

This after three young men were gunned down in a fresh spate of gang violence between the two communities over the weekend.

A total of six people were shot during on-going turf wars between the two areas since Friday, 15 September.

Sources close to the developments have told Kaya News that the violence is part of drug-related conflict between gang factions linked to the Fast Guns and Varados.

Efforts to bring calm to the community failed this weekend, despite a heavy presence of specialized units patrolling the area.

Gauteng police say they have roped in additional resources to deal with the gang violence in Eldorado Park and Westbury, however the community says efforts are in vain.

Despite countless marches, protests and government-led imbizos, gun violence affecting boys as young as 16-years continues unabated.

South African Police Service spokesperson, Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi says no suspects have been arrested to date, but investigations are underway.

“On the morning of 16 September, Eldorado Park police were called to a crime where they found a victim dead with a gunshot wound.

Police in Sophiatown also attended to a scene near Fiona Flats, on Friday, 15 September, where 3 people were shot by unknown suspects.

One of them was declared dead on the scene, while the other two were taken to a local hospital.

In another incident in Coronationville, three others were shot in circumstances that are unknown at this stage. No suspects have been arrested yet.

Provincial Commissioner of Police in Gauteng, Lieutenant-General Elias Mawela, has mobilised additional resources including anti-gang units, to work on these cases.

Police investigations continue.”

LISTEN: Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi – SAPS spokesperson tells Kaya News no arrests have been made

Meanwhile, ActionSA plans on implementing programs to support drug users and their families to win this battle and focus on the drug kingpins and gang members that are killing and escalating violence in these communities.

The party’s Regional Chairperson, Emmah More, and Gauteng Provincial Chairperson, Funzi Ngobeni have put forward the following interventions:

1. We call on the Minister of Police to immediately dispatch more resources to both these areas and for them to be proactive by conducting stop and search operations and target known hot spots.
2. All Faith-Based organizations as well as NGO’s come together to call for calm and peace in these communities.
3. The City of Johannesburg Mayor immediately starts the implementation of proper structures of drug task teams in these communities.

ActionSA stands with #Westbury and #Eldoradopark These drug kingpins must be brought to book and pat their due to society @HermanMashaba @Action4SA @eNCA @Newzroom405 @NewsNMT @ActionSA_JHB pic.twitter.com/LAxTqZIARr

— Dauwq Steyn (@dauwq) September 18, 2023

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