Violence continues in Wentworth despite community’s cry for help

DESPITE the community’s cry for help, stray bullets are still killing the innocent in Wentworth.

In the latest incident, a 10-year-old girl was shot in the head inside her Hime Street home. Miraculously, she survived the ordeal on Monday, July 14, and is said to have been recently discharged from the hospital.

“The shooting happened at the time of the unrest. The community was guarding the area for looters while gangs were killing one another,” said eThekwini South Youth in Business member, Celeste King.

The police said the matter is still under investigation. The shooting comes after fed-up residents took to the streets in protest over a month ago.

According to King, the protest on Saturday, June 19, was just the first step the residents took to say enough is enough. Desperate to put an end to gangsterism, violence, and crime, staging this was their way of taking their community back.

A memorandum of demands was later handed to Wentworth Police Station’s commander, Colonel Willem van Zyl. He was pressed to deliver on the demands in 14 days.

“The colonel responded to some of our demands, but it was not enough. He informed us that he gave the memorandum to his superiors since it was his first time receiving a memorandum,” said King.

Among issues raised in the list of demands was a call for the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, to visit and account to the community.

“In summation of the colonel’s response, he said he would not be able to bring Cele himself since there are protocols to follow and escalate matters.

“But, he said we, as a community, are free to try to bring him ourselves as there aren’t specific protocols for this. Yes, they are trying, but there is still shooting. People are getting killed and since the unrest, there are no police and their resources are even thinner,” she said.

The police said crime operations in the area were still ongoing as they continue to persist in their efforts to curb gang and drug-related crimes that plague the area. They said in response to public outcries, they have instilled additional deployments including a dedicated Organised Crime Investigation team.

“Detectives from the Provincial Organised Crime Unit (Narcotics) and Crime Intelligence who were following up on information regarding the whereabouts of a wanted murder suspect, conducted an operation on Monday, August 2. A 21-year-old suspect was arrested on a warrant of arrest that was issued by the court. He was handed over by his lawyer after evading police arrest since June,” said provincial spokesperson, Colonel Thembeka Mbele.

Cole Peter Pablo Jannerman appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, August 3, in connection to the murder of 15-year-old Joren Jacobs.

The teen was shot in a drive-by shooting at the corner of Victor Lawler and Tifflin roads in June. He was injured and transported to the hospital for medical attention where he later died.

Mbele added that Jannerman now joins his three co-accused Alazay Bernon, 19, Preston Cody Hofenburg, 35, and Tyrese Brandon Pretorius, 21, who were arrested previously.

The suspects were remanded in custody. The matter was adjourned to Tuesday, August 10, for a bail application.

“Now that police resources are spread even thinner, children playing outside or sitting inside are not safe. We are crying out to our government officials and saying that this is real. Coloured lives matter. Hear our cries MEC of Community Safety and Liaison, Mama Neliswe Peggy Nkonyeni, and the minister of police. We are tired of seeing you on TV only. Come to the ground and see the fear and brokenness of our beautiful community,” King added.  

Southlands Sun reached out to Wentworth SAPS for a comment, but none was received at the time this article was published.