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Metro Police in Nelson Mandela Bay will team up with the SAPS as force multipliers, in order to bring stability to identified crime hotspots in the metro.
This measure has been put in place following the killing and injuring of multiple people in certain crime-ridden areas in the metro over the past week. Following recent gang violence in the areas of Arcadia, Malabar and Barcelona, where at least four people were murdered and three injured over the course of two days, the municipality has pledged to work even more closely with police to eradicate violent crime and gangsterism, especially in the northern areas.
During a recent incident, police attended to a complaint of a shooting in Imbuia Street in Arcadia. On arrival, the body of a man was found lying in the street next to a VW Golf. He had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Police spokesperson, Colonel Priscilla Naidu, said that whilst police were still busy at this scene, they were informed that a second body was lying in an open field behind Oosthuizen Street, also in Arcadia.
“A third victim, who was also allegedly shot, was taken to hospital by ambulance while the fourth victim managed to escape unhurt. The second deceased also sustained multiple gunshot wounds,” said Naidu.
The victims allegedly exited a house, and were gunned down by unknown men as they got into a car. A few hours later, during the early hours of the following morning, 18-year-old Keagan Jansen was chased by two armed men. In an attempt to get away, he ran into a yard in Calvin Street, Extension 6 in Malabar, where he was fatally shot multiple times. Less than an hour later, police were alerted of another shooting, this time in Venus Street, Barcelona.
The body of Charlton Minnies was found in the street with a gunshot wound to the head and neck. Another victim also sustained a gunshot wound to his mouth and neck, and taken to hospital for treatment.
Nelson Mandela Bay Mayor, Retief Odendaal, the MMC for Safety and Security, Lawrence Troon, and acting Metro Police Commissioner, Andrew Moses, recently met with the SAPS District Commissioner for Nelson Mandela Bay, Major General Vuyisile Ncata, to discuss the rampant increase in crime.
“I will be making every possible municipal resource available to assist the police in bringing these killers to book,” said Odendaal.
“We have agreed on collaboration between the SAPS, Metro Police, Security Services, Law Enforcement and the Marine Enforcement component within the metro. The municipality is committed to ensuring community safety and assisting the police in addressing incidents of violent crime in the metro.”
He also committed to establishing open communication platforms between the SAPS and the Safety and Security Directorate to create greater law enforcement synergy.
Other departments such as Housing and Land and Environmental Health will also be intensifying their operations to assist the police with crime prevention.
Ncata confirmed that additional resources have been deployed to Nelson Mandela Bay and that intensified, target-driven operations will be conducted across the metro.
“We need the community to trust the police and engage in strong partnerships with us. No stone will be left unturned in the pursuit of safety in Nelson Mandela Bay,” said Ncata.
