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Cops ready for more violence
20/06/2007 13:26 - (SA)
Verashni Pillay
Cape Town - Police on Wednesday revised their operational plan after two days of community protests in Mitchell's Plain culminated in the torching of an alleged drug den.
"We have deployed more personnel to the area to quell the unrest," police spokesperson, Captain Randall Stoffels told News24.
He declined to release further details of the additional security measures that would be taken to curb angry residents, who are acting against drug dealers in the neighbourhood.
A large police contingent was deployed on Tuesday night when a luxury double-storey house went up in flames in Kaneelblomlaan in Lentegeur, but they were outnumbered by the 2 000-strong crowd. A police helicopter kept circling the area.
Staggie lynching
The angry crowds on Tuesday had converged on other houses where tik was allegedly sold, wielding hockey sticks and golf clubs.
The scene brought to mind the lynching in 1996 of Hard Livings boss Rashaad Staggie, after hundreds of People Against Gangtserism and Drugs (Pagad) supporters marched to his home in London Road, Salt River.
Police, however, have denied any Pagad involvement. "I don't want to confirm the involvement of any illegal group at this stage," said Stoffels.
The police's new operational plan is in preparation for any possible violence that may occur again on Wednesday night. Stoffels told News24 on Wednesday afternoon the area was very quiet, but added that marches tended to be at night.
He said the Mitchell's Plain Station Commissioner was liaising with NGOs and members of the community. "He is in daily meetings with them."
No arrests in Sydow death
Meanwhile, no arrests have yet been made in the murder of Abduraghman Sydow, 46, a committed member of the Mitchell's Plain Neighbourhood Watch who was shot dead on Sunday night.
A member of the neighbourhood watch, who chose to remain anonymous for fear of his life, told Die Son that the fatal shooting was a direct assault by local drug dealers, following Sydow's successful efforts in curbing their activities.
Sydow's death outraged the community and it is believed that the recent outbreak of community activism is linked to his murder.
Police wouldn't confirm this, and said investigations were still under way on Wednesday, but that they were confident of an arrest soon.
- News24
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