Calls for ceasefire in Lavender Hill

With the recent spate of gang shootings in Lavender Hill, a group of community leaders sat down with leaders of the two gangs that were at the forefront of the most recent shootings to establish a ceasefire.

The decision was made by the leadership from different organisations, stakeholders, churches and mosques as the matric class of 2023 start their final exams and the community feared an all-out war after two men were shot and killed last month (“Lavender Hill gang war leaves many hungry”, Southern Mail, October 18).

At the time police also advised businesses and others to be cautious when entering the area and to liaise with law enforcement before entering.

The Steenberg Community Police Forum (CPF) played an important role in the agreement between factions associated with the gangs and commended the community leaders for being part of the ceasefire.

Chairperson Gavin Walbrugh said it was a pivotal decision aimed at promoting peace, safety and unity within the community and to create a platform for dialogue and understanding.

“The CPF applauds the commitment of these community leaders, acknowledging the challenges and complexities involved and while we acknowledge the announcement of the ceasefire, we remain vigilant and put our faith in accountability and honour of the agreement.”

He added that the initiative addresses immediate safety concerns and positively impacts the upcoming final examinations for matriculants who can write without disruption.

“As we navigate through the uncertainties ahead, the Steenberg CPF urges the community to rally behind the leadership that has worked towards a safer neighbourhood. Together, we can build a stronger, more peaceful community for all residents.”

In previous years there has been a treaty in Lavender Hill but new forming gangs and factions of gangs have infiltrated the area which has led to shootings.

Pastor Shaun Nortje from CRC False Bay Church said the older gangs have been wanting peace but younger gangsters didn’t adhere to these agreements.

“The older gangs have wanted a calmer Lavender Hill and as a result it was decided at these meetings that we should go back to the original agreement and it was urgent to take this step. This now needs to infiltrate the younger guys to make Lavender Hill more peaceful,” he said.

Mark Schrikker from community organisation 7945 said he doesn’t totally agree with the ceasefire but instead wants total peace where gangs take ownership of any shots fired and that they would be held accountable.

“We want complete peace in Lavender Hill that involves all of the gangs. We have had enough. The idea that we have to negotiate with gangsters and want to act like a community organisation that wants to be involved. It shouldn’t work like this and we cannot allow 2000 people to keep 37 000 people hostage.

“We do need to get the gang leaders in one room and tell them to stop and if there isn’t they should be locked up to protect the community,” said Mr Schrikker

Said ultimately the gangs affect the community and said the collective cannot act like they do not exist.

“They affect our economy and our safety so naturally they have to be engaged. We’ve tried different methods and it just wasn't working.

“There are many social ills that come from these groups and that involve them so we cannot try and have a solution without having them involved. As uncomfortable as that is for some people we have to engage them because they are an active part of the community and on the back of this agreement we can then go into talks with them about the future like putting guns down and not recruiting young children into these gangs.”

Mark Nicholson, community worker and Lavender Hill resident, said the agreement has yielded a success so far as the gangs from the two factions were not involved in shooting since the agreement.

“There was a shooting on Monday but it didn’t involve the two gangs we spoke to. They understand what’s best for the community and for themselves as well because it would have been a very bad situation in Lavender Hill if they didn't agree to the ceasefire and we didn’t want that especially with the matrics writing their final and most important exams.”

Mr Nicholson, who has been involved in previous ceasefires, stressed the importance of having peace talks with gangsters even though many don't agree with the idea.

"In the meantime the ambulance services can't come into the area, clinic and day hospital services are affected because they are robbed and harassed. Businesses are broken into, shops are being taxed by these gangsters so we want that to stop and these are the kind of things we want to eradicate and the only way to do that is to speak to these gangsters and gang leaders. At the end these gangsters are also human beings and we are appealing to their humanity."

Mr Nicholson said the representatives are looking forward to healing the community and to make positive changes for the betterment of Lavender Hill.

"We want to look at this holistically and we will hopefully get everlasting peace as a result," said Mr Nicholson.

Provincial police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed the shooting incident in Grindel Avenue on Monday and said Steenberg police found the body of a 26-year-old man who sustained a gunshot wound to his back.

“The victim was declared deceased on the scene by medical personnel. The motive for the attack is part of a police investigation but the possibility that it might be gang related cannot be ruled out. Arrests are yet to be made,” he said.

Anyone with information about the shooting can contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111.