The murder of a shop owner in New Horizons has spurred further calls for urgent intervention in the area.
Muhamad Attiq, a 49-year-old Bangladeshi national, was stabbed in the face on Saturday October 15 and died on the scene. According to Grassy Park police, the man had been ordered by police officers to close his shop on Saturday evening, which he did, but not long after members of the Sixbob gang harassed him.
Grassy Park station commander Colonel Dawood Laing said the gang members wanted to be served. “When they banged on the door he came out and told them that police closed his place and that he can’t open. There was an argument and then he was stabbed in the face.”
Community worker Zainoneesa Rashid who was on the scene Saturday evening, said it was a grim sight which left the community traumatised.
“We are so fed up with what’s happening in the area. Every day it gets worse and it is continuous.”
Ms Rashid, who has been living in New Horizons since it was established nine years ago, said the gang operates openly in the area and has no regard for the community. “We have shootings, hijackings, house break-ins, robberies and our cars are broken into. Things have become so bad in New Horizons and it was never this bad but it is getting too out of control.”
Last month about 300 people marched against crime, shooting and violence in the area and stopped at alleged drug houses along the way “New Horizon takes a stand against crime, Southern Mail, September 21) but Ms Rashid said there had been no positive changes.
“What makes it worse are the young children who aren’t attending school but rather sitting on street corners and being drawn in by the gangs. So we have children as young as 10 and 11 becoming involved in gangs. We need social intervention and more police visibility and activity in the area as well as more manpower,” she said.
Peter Bell, who runs a church from his home in New Horizon, moved from Parkwood to New Horizon eight years ago hoping to get away from crime, violence and gang shootings but said the area had become exactly what he was trying to get away from, because of the actions of one gang.
“When we moved here we were looking for a peaceful place to live but for the past six years it has been the complete opposite and so many people have died because of the violence or shootings.
“Children also act like gangsters and there is no respect, especially in the section where I live. There are a lot of good people in New Horizon, much more than a handful of gangsters, but things are becoming unbearable for a lot of people and many are leaving,” said Mr Bell.
Responding to enquiries about police visibility Colonel Laing said they had daily operations in the area. “We are putting as many members as possible in the area but we encourage people to join the neighbourhood watches to assist us. That’s one of the best ways the community can help and we don’t expect them to address the threats but we need them to be our eyes and ears.”
A 23-year-old man was arrested for Mr Attiq’s murder on Sunday October 16 when the mother of the suspect escorted him to the station where he was charged for the murder.
“We encourage parents not to hide their children’s offences but to identify that their children have problems. If your child is suspected of committing a crime please tell us so that we can take the necessary steps. We as the police are not there to judge, our role is to ensure the person goes to court,” said Colonel Laing. He appeared on Tuesday October 18.
The station commander encouraged residents and shop owners to report gang members who extort them.
“Unfortunately foreigners are being targeted and once they give these gangsters money or products once, they will continue extorting them. Shop owners, however, are scared to open cases but every case that has been reported to us has been followed up on and the suspects were remanded in custody.”
The extortion cases are being investigated in terms of the station’s extortion plan that was implemented following several cases of extortion.
To report, call the station on 021 700 3900.