“We have had enough” – this is what residents of Sydenham Heights are saying as they live in fear following several alleged gang-related shootings in the area, worrying about who will be the next victim. In the most recent incident, mother-of-two, Roberta Sing, 24, was shot and killed on 5 December in George Hill.
Residents claim that the shootings started after Cape Town’s notorious Hard Livings gang allegedly set up base in the community, launching a full-blown turf war against a local gang. This resulted in a series of shootings in recent months, where innocent lives were lost. One Sydenham Heights resident, who did not want to be named for fear of victimisation, said that at least five people who were known to her were shot in recent weeks. “Recently I had visitors at my house and they were actually stopped by gang members who questioned their identity as they were looking for their next target. They stop every male teenager,” said the resident.
She claimed that the shootings were gang-related and that the gangs were known to the police, however, nothing was being done about it. “There are crossfires daily in blocks A and C of the complex and also in George Hill,” she claimed.
A community meeting was called on Monday evening by the Sydenham Community Policing Forum (CPF) together with the SAPS and the Metro Police at the Sherwood Community Hall over the concerns raised by the residents. Belinda Adams, Sydenham CPF deputy chairperson, said that there were five murders in the last month. “We as the Community Policing Forum of Sydenham Police Station that falls under the eThekwini District, condemn any crimes such as this which ultimately, in our understanding, is gang and drug-related. To facilitate a way forward through the structure we had called for a meeting of concerned residents to discuss a way forward. Irate residents of the Sydenham community expressed their frustration and were allowed to directly engage with SAPS in terms of the same,” she said.
She said that the residents raised many issues including collusion, corruption and a lack of service from the station and its members. “A proposal was made that all these cases are not treated in isolation but rather at a provincial level and contact details of crime intelligence outside of the station as well as provincial intervention in this matter be raised and activated. It was also important to note that after a few heated engagements between SAPS and the community, it was clear that the community has lost faith in the police which now needs to be restored; not in rhetoric but in action,” said Adams.
The call was unanimous, she said: No more murders and no more drug dealing in Sydenham. “It was also clear that communities needed to unite in their fight against crime with the police in partnership. It must also be noted that crime prevention and crime fighting should not only be exercised when issues escalate out of control but should be ongoing and not only when issues arise. We will monitor the situation and do what’s in our power to ensure the safety of our citizens. We say no to drugs and gang-related murders in Sydenham as of now,” said Adams.
Adding to the resolutions, it was agreed that a peaceful march will be held soon to honour those who lost their lives in the alleged turf wars. The word was spreading that the community was tired, while the march would create awareness on the drug business in the area and how is it affecting the entire community. Metro Police said that they would increase foot patrols on Moses Kotane (Sparks), and Randles roads. Safer Cities and eThekwini Municipality management have promised to step up the visibility of drug and firearm-related units as well as release of funding for more operations. Sydenham Police were contacted for comment and to verify facts, however, no official comment could be obtained at the time of going to press, despite several calls made to the station. At the meeting on Monday, Sydenham SAPS Vispol commander, Colonel Greg Joseph, conceded that the police in the area were not equipped to handle the surge in the shootings. “We have no manpower. We have no capacity to deal with this type of situation. We have asked for urgent intervention and are hoping for at least 20 to 30 more officers to be deployed to the area,” he said.
Speaking to Sing’s father, Robert, he said he was torn by the incident. He described his daughter as a bubbly human being who made friends easily. “My daughter was in the wrong place at the wrong time, however, it may have been God’s will to get her closer to him and that way. There is nothing I can do now. All I know is that she is resting in peace. When I saw her in hospital she was so peaceful and had suffered a bullet wound in the back of her head. When she was shot two others were also shot, however, one of them survived,” said Sing.
Sing said that his daughter did not deserve to die in the way she did. He said that she was caught in the cross fire that was in retaliation for another shooting that happened a few days earlier. A 28-year-old Cape Town man survived the shooting after taking a bullet to the side of his chest. “My grandchildren will never know how and why their mother died and moving forward I do not know what is going to happen. I am faced with a lot of mixed emotions right now and cannot put everything into perspective and being a man of God I have to do what the bible says. The devil puts us under his test and he has brought this test right in front of my door. I will leave this in God’s hands. God will take revenge on this definitely and the culprits will meet their revenge,” said Sing. Roberta’s funeral takes place on Friday, 10 December, at 10am. Sydenham Heights residents alleged that police were last seen patrolling on Tuesday morning and later that afternoon the complex was allegedly surrounded by gang members resulting in more panic from the residents who said that they are living in fear.
Another resident said that she locked herself in her flat the entire day on Tuesday. She said that her children could not even go to the shops and the security guard kept all the gates locked, not allowing anyone to enter or leave the building. “People are terrified. We feel like there is no help for us because the police just don’t care,” she said. Residents who have lived in Sydenham Heights for years said that things have changed drastically as they now have to live like prisoners in their own neighbourhood.
Newly-elected Ward 31 Councillor, Remona McKenzie, conveyed condolences to the bereaved families. “I convey sincere condolences to all the families and the Sydenham Heights community. This is a sensitive matter, families and the community are mourning and are in pain. All protocol officers have been called to come on board and due process is in progress. The level of crime and criminality in the area is indeed extremely worrying,” said Cllr McKenzie.
