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LEONSDALE: CHILDREN ALLEGEDLY GIVEN IMITATION FIREARMS BY GANG MEMBERS
Not just a toy TARRYNLEIGH SOLOMONS @tarryns07
C
ommunity members of Leonsdale have alerted police that children in the area allegedly received imitation firearms from gang members around Christmas. It is believed that the children are allegedly being used as gang informants. Three guns were confiscated from minors in two separate incidents on Monday 15 January and Thursday 18 January. Elsies River police spokesperson, Daphne O’Reilly, says that in the most recent incident (18 January), police officers Colonel Vuyisile Payi and Colonel Jacques de Bruin were doing patrols in schools in Leonsdale. “During school patrols in the area, police saw a 12-year-old boy chasing another boy with an imitation firearm. They [police] then confiscated the toy gun. When police went into the community to speak to residents, they [police] were informed that the children had allegedly received toy guns from gangsters. “It’s obviously not illegal to have these toy guns, but the fact that minors could be informants for gang members is deeply concerning,” says O’Reilly. In the previous incident on Monday 15 January, while Colonel Payi and Colonel de Bruin were doing patrols next to Majiet Stores in Norwood Road, they saw three boys aged between seven and 11 years in possession of imitation firearms. “The firearms were confiscated and the children were taken home to their parents.” She says the problem with such toy guns is that they look exactly the same as a normal 9mm firearm used by police. “When someone is threatened with an imitation firearm, they may not know in the moment that it’s actually a toy gun because it looks real. These toy guns can be cocked and have magazines,” says O’Reilly. She advises parents to be more alert of what their children are doing so as to prevent them to falling into the trap of gangsterism. “It’s so unfortunate that there is no guidance from some parents. When children have no role model, they become so vulnerable and start looking up to gangsters. These
This imitation firearm was confiscated from a 12yearold boy on Thursday 18 January.
young children become inspired by them because they have a sense of belonging. “The problem with this is that these children are basically being trained on how to act out duties as a gangster.” O’Reilly says there have been instances of robberies being perpetrated with imitation firearms. “We have dealt with a lot of major robberies involving toy guns. “Our children need to be guided in what they get themselves into before it’s too late. If they [children] are not trained at home, they will be trained by someone else,” says O’Reilly. Ward 26 councillor, Franchesca Walker, says she is extremely concerned. “Children should be protected and be al-
lowed to grow up in a safe environment to grow and become healthy youth,” says Walker. She adds that it saddens her that such young children are being used by gangs. “I took 25 boys on an outdoor camp, teaching them about the dangers in Leonsdale and to stay away from wrongfully activities. These children told me they want to be free to play and want the shootings to end. They want to just play in the streets and parks and enjoy life,” says Walker. “Every day they need to dodge bullets, so this is very unfair. My wish for the children in my ward is that they reach their potential and rise above their circumstances.” V What is your opinion on this article? Let us know at briewe@tygerburger.co.za.
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