Gangsterism a top priority for Sophiatown Police Station’s new leader
An innovative approach to use the grief of mothers who have buried their sons may be key to turning the tide on revenge killings.
Sophiatown Police Station acting Station Commander Colonel Andile Moshadi is cracking the whip on crime and gangster-related activity in the precinct.
Gangsterism plagues areas like Westbury which spills into neighbouring areas. Gangsters are routinely buried at Westpark Cemetery with mourners shooting live ammunition into the air causing not only a danger to nearby mourners but also disturbing the peace for other funerals.
“The volume of gang-related crime is staggering but we are determined to win,” he said during an Operation Shanela intervention last week.
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He, like the now acting Johannesburg district commissioner, Brigadier Alfred Ndebele, before him, says a multi-faceted approach is needed to deal with the complex issues at play.
“We have seen a reduction in this area of crime recently, although it is not enough, and the community are rightly frustrated.”
He says understanding what fuels the shootings is critical.
“The bosses of two major gangs have been killed recently but this has not dampened gang activity substantively. The members are now fighting for territory in which they sell and deal in drugs.”
Moshadi has an innovative approach.
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“Mothers who have lost their sons, generally within the ages of 14 – 21 I believe are key. They have buried their children because of gangsterism and are grieving and hurt. They might have some influence on others who are still alive.”
He hopes the mothers will be able to influence the community.
Retaliatory killings are the biggest problem he says with gang members avenging the deaths of their kin. “They think that to keep themselves and others safe a target in a rival gang must be taken out. But with this thinking the cycle of death will never end – something must break the chain.”
He is also championing a grief support programme that assists bereaved mothers and family members.
“We are providing counselling and social worker services weekly where we hope to have some influence to help change mindsets. These women and families cannot continue living with this kind of pain and danger.”
He says the response to this has been positive and even though some are reluctant to participate, he hopes with time more people will see the value in it.
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