With the recent increase in gang violence across the city, community activists will be mobilizing together under the banner of #GangsterismMustFall in a mass march in Manenberg on Saturday 6 February. The march will start outside the Manenberg Police Station at 10am and make its way to the Athlone Civic Centre.

#GangsterismMustFall founder Roscoe Jacobs told VOC Breakfast Beat that perpetual gang violence should be blamed on a lack of political will to address the culture of gangsterism in the Western Cape. According to Jacobs, the Cape Town Mayor and Western Cape premier had failed to respond to the request to collect the memorandum of gang ridden communities.

However, he called on residents to participate and stand up against gangsterism and crime.

“The mass action planned is community centred and we call on communities affected to partake in numbers so they can benefit from the outcomes of the march. Marchers are encouraged to wear white and to be peaceful during the course of the march.”

Transport will be provided for demonstrators at various stops on the Cape Flats. Busses services by SCI will operate from Elsies River, Kensington, Hanover Park and Lavender Hill.

A senior police official has been deployed to collect the memorandum on behalf of the Ministry of Police.

“This is not a programme driven by any political parties but this doesn’t stop any of them from partaking. They must be aware that they will however not be given a platform to address marchers as we want to stay away from it becoming a platform for parties to use for political point scoring,” said Jacobs.

The memorandum will be handed over to government around 12:30pm. Jacobs said the demonstration is aimed at allowing community role players along the Klipfontein corridor to play an active role in curbing gangsterism in the communities to keep government accountable. VOC