September 26, 2013
Produced by Hazel Friedman
On July 15, 2013, while walking through the grounds of a local school in Manenberg, 27-year old Chantal Knight and her boyfriend, Romano Oliver, were gunned down by two men, allegedly members of the notorious Hard Livings Gang. Romano died instantly from a single gunshot wound. Chantal was shot in the back and then several times at point-blank range. For months rumors swirled around her fate. Was she dead, or had she miraculously survived the brutal attack? Was she in a coma? Or had she been ferreted into Witness Protection Programme?
Chantal’s case was one of many instances of violence in Manenberg – a suburb on the Cape Flats that, after years of peace, has again become the epicentre of escalating gang conflict. Since May, scores have been killed and injured – many in the crossfire. What distinguishes Chantal’s story is that she was the woman responsible for sending notorious Hard Livings leader, Rashied Staggie to prison, for kidnapping and ordering her gang-rape. On September 23, Staggie is due to be released on day-parole after serving 10 years of his 15-year sentence.
In the game of duplicity, the truth is often the ultimate pawn
Days after the May announcement of his release, Manenberg’s streets again became war zones, as rivalries within and between the dominant gangs wreaked carnage on traumatised residents for whom fear, deceit and death have become a way of life. In fact, not since the violence of the late 1990s between the Hard Livings and their chief rivals for drug turf, The Americans, and between the gangs and PAGAD, has Manenberg borne the brunt of such mayhem.
Coincidence? Or a brazen act of revenge and arrogant display of power by a hardened gang leader who still exerts enormous influence, even behind bars? Or have the dots been joined too easily? Are there greater, more malevolent forces at play?
Special Assignment investigates the truth behind the rumours, but uncovers more questions than answers. SABC 3 at 9:30pm, Thursday.
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