Serious crime spike in Shaka’s Head, Nkobongo and Shayamoya areas
According to a local councillor, gangs have been fighting over territory with children as young as 14 being recruited.
The increasing rate of murders in townships within the Umhlali police precinct over the last two months is causing serious concern among the affected communities.
Although the police station’s spokes-person, captain Vinny Pillay, could not provide exact numbers, he confirmed a high number of stabbings and shootings in Shaka’s Head, Nkobongo and Shayamoya.
Umhlali station recorded 20 murder cases between April and June this year, eight attempted murders and 50 assaults with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Shayamoya councillor Collin Mdletshe said he believed the problem was mainly caused by gangs fighting over territory.
“I am aware of at least five people killed in the past four weeks, the majority of them gang members. Four were shot execution style and one was stabbed.
“When we visited some of their families, their parents told us these boys were already aware there were people who wanted to kill them. One mother told me that before he died he was no longer living in the house out of fear,” said Mdletshe.
He said the gangs recruited boys as young as 14 to join. In some townships residents have taken the law into their own hands in frustration over the high crime rate.
Recently, two men were killed by Shayamoya residents after they robbed a man and cut off his ear.
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