Gangsters recruiting youngsters from school for a life of crime, and women living constantly in fear of violence, was the bleak picture painted of life in Delft.<\/p>\n
This was part of the reason residents took to the streets yesterday to march against crime in the area and to also mark the start of the 16 Days of Activism for no Violence against Women and Children Campaign.<\/p>\n
The 50-strong crowd, including DA ward councillors and concerned residents, walked through the main road of Delft to the local police station to hand over a petition to the police asking them to intensify visible policing in the area.<\/p>\n
The residents of the area decided to take this action after growing concern for their safety.<\/p>\n
Delft resident, MP Lennit Max, said: \u201cThere have been a lot of murders in the area recently. Just last week a man that I regularly used for odd jobs around the house was shot seven times. He is now recovering in hospital.\u201d<\/p>\n
Western Cape minister of Safety and Security Dan Plato agreed, telling marchers that they had to start taking a stand against gang violence, drugs and crime against women and children. He said the abuse of alcohol also needed to tackled in order to limit crime.<\/p>\n
Another concern for Plato was the fact that gangs had begun recruiting members from schools and he felt that it was important for parents to step in.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cParents should take note of the changes in their children\u2019s behaviour and help them overcome their problems. Their fathers should also be better examples for them.<\/p>\n
\u201cParents must realise that to help their children, they must not cover up for them when they do wrong. They should be getting their children to the police to accept the consequences of their actions.\u201d – Junior Bester<\/p>\n<\/p>\n