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A resident in Elsies River shared their photo of the SANDF being spotted.
BISHOP LAVIS | BONTEHEUWEL | ELSIES RIVER: SIGHS OF RELIEF
Army keeps a close watch TARRYN-LEIGH SOLOMONS @tarryns07
R
esidents of Bishop Lavis, Bonteheuwel and Elsies River say they are relieved after the first sighting of the South African Defence Force (SANDF) who was seen patrolling over the past weekend. “Now our area feels much safer. Just seeing them is such a relief. My grandchildren, who can now be children, are also very happy about the deployment. We need this in the community of Bonteheuwel because experiencing shootings every day is not a nice thing,” Elaine Mitchell tells TygerBurger. She says her biggest fear for her family was being caught in a crossfire. “Now we don’t have to feel scared anymore when we want to take a walk to the shop,” adds Mitchell. She says the last shooting she’s aware of took place in Brambell Way on Friday 19 July. “There is no set time for shootings becau-
se they (gangsters) shoot anytime.” Meanwhile, 19-year-old Sharné Jansen from Netreg, says she is happy that there’s “finally going to be a change in the community”. “Now we’re going to have fewer violence and less murders in the area. We just want to grow up in peace, that’s all. Normally you don’t know if it’s safe to walk outside but now that will change.” Marilyn Marais (53) from Kalksteenfontein says innocent lives will finally not be at risk. “I feel so excited. This is such a good thing. The things I’ve seen with my eyes is not good. Since we heard about the news, there hasn’t been a lot of shootings. A family member of mine, who was innocent lost his life when he was at the wrong place at the wrong time. It’s not fair to our people. But at least change is coming.” Charmaine Neethling from Bishop Lavis says she feels very happy especially for the children of the community.
A Leonsdale resident, who requested anonymity, said she has her concerns about the army following what she witnessed on Friday. “The army operated in 9th Avenue, 12th Avenue and 14th Avenue last week, but shortly after they left gangsters went on with their shooting activities as normal. My concern is that they only stop shooting for that short time then as soon as they get the chance to shoot, they go ahead. In the early hours of Saturday morning (20 July) they were shooting non-stop for about three to four hours. We need to have more visibility in Leonsdale because when gangsters see authorities they won’t continue their shooting sprees,” she said. Elsies River Police’s station commander Brigadier Sandile Sonjani, says the assistance from the army will help the police in its endeavours to bring peace and stability into communities, “particularly Elsies River which is under siege from the grip of gang-
sters”. He adds: “I also think it’s a welcome to the community itself as they were pleading for this assistance for so long. We can never dupe it or call it too late as people are currently and still suffering. Condolences to families of victims of this scourge.” When asked if lack of police resources contributes to the high crime, Sonjani said: “Police are coping under the circumstances as we will never be 100% resourced due to natural attrition, death, resignation, discharges and dismissals due to misconduct, so in that vain situation we cannot put shortages as excuses as much as being overwhelmed by social ills. Our issue in Elsies River remains gangsterism and drugs.” Bishop Lavis Police Station’s spokesperson, Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi confirmed the deployment of the army in the area: “The operation covered the entire Bishop Lavis policing precinct. There were notable successes for the duration of the planned operations.”