Gang violence grips Joburg south as Lesufi fails to act, says DA

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has expressed grave concern over the escalating gang violence in Johannesburg South, with a sharp increase in murders and attempted murders since 2024.

This follows violence, primarily concentrated in South Hills (Ward 57) and Chrisville (Ward 55), which the party attributes to ongoing turf wars between rival gangs.

As a result, innocent lives continue to be lost, including the recent death of an 18-year-old and a school transport driver, both killed in incidents linked to gang-related violence.

DA demands safety for communities

DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education, Sergio Isa dos Santos, earlier this week condemned the rising bloodshed.

Dos Santos emphasised that Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s failure to deliver on his promises to curb gangsterism was exacerbating the crisis.

“Since 2024, Johannesburg South has seen a distressing rise in gang violence, with around 74 murders and 10 attempted murders, many related to gang wars,” said dos Santos.

Despite a memorandum of understanding signed by Premier Lesufi in late 2024 with various law enforcement agencies to combat crime, the DA has pointed out the stark contrast between his promises and reality on the ground.

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No action

The DA said Lesufi had previously claimed that a coordinated strategy between law enforcement agencies would restore safety to Gauteng.

“The real forces are back to clean our homes,” Lesufi said, in remarks quoted by the DA.

“However, in the areas most affected by crime, there is a noticeable absence of visible policing, and the so-called ‘Amapanyaza’ crime wardens are nowhere in sight,” said dos Santos.

The DA has reiterated its call for Lesufi to take urgent action, including directing the South African Police Service (Saps) to deploy specialised units to tackle gang violence and dismantle criminal networks.

“He must allocate necessary resources to police stations such as Booysens and Moffat View so they can deal with the scourge,” said dos Santos.

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Key proposals

In addition to urging immediate intervention, the DA has outlined several key proposals for tackling the root causes of gang violence.

These include deploying specialised Saps units, intensifying operations to eliminate illegal firearms, and implementing community outreach programmes aimed at offering educational resources, skills training, and job opportunities to young people.

“The DA will continue to put pressure on the Premier and his failing government to treat this issue with the urgency it deserves,” said dos Santos.

The premier had not responded to The Citizen at the time of publishing.

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