Muizenberg residents chain themselves to Parliament in protest against gang violence

Overcome Heights residents from the Muizenberg informal settlement returned to Parliament on Friday, chaining themselves to the precinct gates to demand urgent action from Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia.

The small group, which included mothers and community leaders, said they had been promised a meeting on Tuesday but were left unattended when they arrived.

They sang and shouted, calling for safety in their communities and an end to the cycle of violence.

By midday, demonstrators remained chained to the gates, refusing to move until either a minister or the South African National Defence Force addressed them.

Community leader Karen Mentoor explained the depth of frustration and fear driving the protest. "We will come here and die in front of Parliament. That is what I demand. They must arrest us to pay for our rights. We are not fighting here as women.

"We are fighting for our families and our children. Our kids can't go to school because of this. They are traumatised. Even this morning, the cleaners called; they can't go into the area. There were supposed to be a lot of women here, but bodies were lying there in the area after another shooting. 

"Innocent people were killed while sleeping in their shacks. Bullets go straight through the roofs. We are not safe. We are living in constant fear. The government keeps promising safety plans, but we have seen nothing. Last week, the Minister of Police said there is no plan to fight gangs. That is exactly why I am here. We need them to tell us their plan because people are dying."

Mentoor said they didn't want politicians to address them.

"I am doing this as a mother and for all the women. Political parties were not here on Tuesday; we are doing this for ourselves. Political parties come when it is election time because they want our votes, and then they disappear.

"Two months ago, at an imbizo with the police, we highlighted that we are not feeling safe, and nothing has been done to help us. There is still no police visibility; there are so many vans protecting the police leadership, but nothing for us." 

Ward Councillor Mandy Marr, who accompanied the protesters, highlighted the lack of resources and the need for localised policing.

"We called for more police resources, but nothing is happening. I am calling for the devolution of police powers. Politicians at the top have no idea what is happening in the Western Cape. Gang violence is completely out of control, and even the police admit they have no plan. They claim to have a plan, but nothing has been implemented. Stories keep changing."

Marr also drew attention to the human toll of the violence.

"On Friday morning, another person was shot. The night before, two people, both youngsters, were killed in a spillover shooting. I support the community’s protest. I do not support any lawlessness, but I support this march and this protest. I have also organised taxis for people to get here.

"We had someone ready to engage, but the demonstrators chained themselves to the gate."

Marr said that innocent people are being shot, not gangsters.

"Gang tensions are rising, breakaway factions are forming, and there is no leadership. The community is terrified. Families live in fear every day, sleeping under their beds at night. The situation is outrageous."

Another resident emphasised the threat to children and ordinary households.

"We have young children and we want to keep them safe, but there are not enough police in the area. We need the Anti-Gang Unit here, not the regular police from Muizenberg. Bullets come straight through our shacks. A woman was killed on Friday morning when a bullet passed through the zinc roof and hit her in the head. We need police who will protect us."

Residents said they would remain at Parliament until officials provided clear, actionable plans to address gang violence and protect their communities. They said repeated promises from the police and national politicians had failed to deliver any measurable safety improvements, leaving families traumatised and children unable to attend school.

The demonstrators called for the immediate deployment of specialised policing units, an end to gang infiltration in their neighbourhoods, and a transparent, monitorable plan.

mandilakhe.tshwete@inl.co.za