Much has transpired since the gunning down of Lieutenant-Colonel Charl Kinnear in Bishop Lavis nearly a month ago. The call to bring his killers to book and let justice run its course has reached the upper echelons of the security establishment. The arrest of a suspect has done little though, to bring comfort to those concerned about gang warfare that seems to persist unabated. Kinnear’s death, in fact, is throwing down the gauntlet and it spells dire consequences, as it may justly be perceived that the war on gangs has turned into a war on those who “fight against gangsterism”. How should we respond and what do we expect of the leadership entrusted with our safety and security?

One thing is certain, this is just the tip of the iceberg and it will remain so as long as the intricate network of gangs remains intact. Until we have a comprehensive plan in place, to uproot gangsterism, it is wishful thinking that it will go away by itself. We can expect more of the same: more killings and more instances of rampant criminality, at the expense of our people.

Our communities are GATVOL (fed-up) that so many innocent people, especially young children and youngsters, have been killed. We live in constant fear, pain and trauma that killings and funerals are so commonplace. Those in power in the Western Cape and the City of Cape Town must take responsibility for failing our people. We call for a full investigation into what’s going on in our communities, where it’s not even safe for a high-ranking police officer. We are left at a loss for words over his brutal killing and we ask, when will be the next killing? 

Community members will not rest until those responsible are brought to book. It appears that our wheels of justice really turn slowly and we have a long way to go before we deal gangsterism and criminality a deadly blow. What shall we do? What can we do to resolve this problem? 

In time, the loss of someone of his calibre and seniority may be forgotten but we must ensure that he and others didn’t die in vain. We can only do that as a collective when we fight to keep his memory and legacy alive and that means intensifying the war on gangsterism. It also requires us to be vigilant and demand that the work of the Anti-Gang Unit be expanded to address a broader and more comprehensive response that also addresses the social causes of gangsterism and development of effective measures to wipe out this scourge from our midst.

Some believe we have already lost the war against gangsterism because of its roots in our communities and the seemingly myopic and ineffectual response to the spiralling criminality. The spate of gang killings has become a deluge. A captured security establishment would certainly give credence to such a position. 

What contributes to this view of a “captured security establishment” is the emergence of the gang network or the network influenced by gangs within the state security and policing structures. This collusion is cause for concern about the historic relationship between gangs and the apartheid state. This in itself requires a Truth and Reconciliation Commission of sorts, as much of the informer network appears to be intact; police killings continue and we seem to make little progress in winning the war on gangsterism. 

At best, our response seems to be knee-jerk, after the fact and wholly out of sync with the magnitude of the problem. We ask ourselves if a lasting solution is even possible? Do we have the will to uproot gangsterism and can we commit the resources to do so? Are these just rhetorical questions or does the political will exist to make good on our promise of “safety and security for all”?

We know for certain that the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape government have failed to bring the gang warfare under control because they lack the political will to do so and would rather indulge in political grandstanding and shifting blame. The DA has governed Cape Town since 2006 and it has been a downward spiral ever since. Despite numerous promises to the community of the Cape Flats nothing has changed; in fact, it has got worse: innocent bystanders are killed daily in gang skirmishes, the drug trade continues unabated and there is growing despair taking root in communities. Kinnear’s death served as a grim reminder that the fight against gangsterism is far from over and will need a better response than our efforts to date as we have no or little results to show.

The situation is so dire that Police Minister Bheki Cele admitted the national police commissioner had lied to Parliament about the Anti-Gang Unit. Misleading Parliament is a serious offence and we will use everything at our disposal through Parliament to get answers on this matter and to ensure these issues confronting our communities are addressed urgently. We are being terrorised by criminals: we must ensure that justice takes its course. We also demand to know from the National Prosecuting Authority why six so-called crime intelligence officers have not been prosecuted, as recommended by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate – or has the NPA also been captured?

How do we eradicate the criminal elements that have infiltrated the police and the justice system? What can we do when it is the collusion within the ranks of state security that is feeding gangs with guns and ammunition? What actions do we take in the wake of the affidavit that shows Kinnear had an inside track on corruption in the police firearms registry and was on the verge of exposing this Trojan horse?

We call on President Cyril Ramaphosa and the government to come to the aid of our suffering communities. We have been abandoned by the City of Cape Town and provincial government, which have demonstrated no political will to uproot gangsterism and violence gripping the Cape Flats.

What is needed is a socioeconomic plan that includes steps to clean up security and a comprehensive strategy to reverse the consequences of apartheid social engineering that rendered the Cape Flats a gang-infested ghetto. 

We need a broader alliance between communities, government and business that supports investment into these poor communities where unemployment is more than 60%, which contributes to a breeding ground for gangsterism, drugs, criminality and every conceivable form of social dysfunction. No war on gangsterism can be won without providing our youth with viable alternatives, including opportunities for personal development, sports and culture infrastructure, sustainable economic activity and strengthening the work of the interfaith, social and community structures.

We must restore faith in our police as protectors of our people and our democracy. We extend a plea to our police to serve and protect, and not to serve the masters of the underworld. We appeal to the SAPS  leadership to honour the memory of Lieutenant-Colonel Charl Kinnear and all fallen officers who gave their lives to fight gangsterism and restore peace in our communities.

The work of the Community Policing Forums and Neighbourhood Watch must be centre stage in taking back neighbourhoods, giving families peace of mind to nurture, love, protect and discipline their children. We salute these social justice activists and crime fighters. We want peace on the Cape Flats and it is not too much to ask that Cape Town must care for all of us. 

Our communities want and deserve to be given a fair chance in life, and to live in happy, safe and secure communities. Our communities are fed up and we have lost too many innocent people. It is time to act now and to act decisively so that the suffering can end.

As we lay to rest Lieutenant-Colonel Charl Kinnear let this be a turning point in our fight to rid our communities of gangsterism. Let us send a strong message that we will not back off until his killers are brought to book and we rid our communities of gangsterism, violence and drugs. This is a battle we shall fight to the bitter end and until peace is restored and justice prevails. DM