Leaders of the Total Shutdown Movement and members of various communities in Cape Town have vowed to rise up and continue their fight against poverty and crime.
They’ve met with Police Minister, Bheki Cele and provincial police heads in Bonteheuwel.
Today’s chaotic scenes, where the city councillor JP Smith and local councillor Angus McKenzie, were booted from the meeting.
Tuesday’s protest action resulted in the arrests of 13 people.
Cele says a decision will be made soon as to when the specialised gang unit will be reinstated. Cele and police’s top brass attended a meeting in Bonteheuwel on the Cape Flats following Tuesday’s protest by residents taking part in the total shutdown movement on the Cape Flats.
People from various communities took to the streets to protest against unemployment, crime and poverty in their areas. Cele says he fully agrees with the grievances of the Bonteheuwel community.
“We have done, as the South African Police, some efforts but clearly it’s not enough. Clearly. We have come with the Operation Thunder. There’s been some success. There are places where we’ve gone and they said there are kids that are now able to play outside after 6. This is a good measurements. Kids are not supposed to be locked in like chickens in the hok.”
Alleged police brutality
Members say they will lay a charge against the police following alleged police brutality on members of the public during Tuesday’s protest.
People from various communities took to the streets to protest against unemployment, crime and poverty in their areas. Police fired stun grenades and used a water canon to disperse angry crowds across the city who disrupted traffic.
Thirteen community members were arrested. Video footage later emerged allegedly showing the police shove people into the back of a van.
Movement spokesperson, Abdul Karriem Matthews, says they are angry. “JP Smith is on record as saying that the SSI unit will send two representatives to the shutdown meeting to find out who the agitators are. We are not agitators. We are just very, very angry. That anger is born out of deep, deep trauma. None of you live in a gang infested war zone. So you will not tell us what we need to do to tackle gangsterism and crime.” Click below for more on the story :
