After being robbed in Tsepetsepe where he stays, Khayelitsha resident Shakes Makangela decided to join a crime-fighting forum in his neighbourhood..
“I was mugged twice and from that moment I deeply hated criminals because they are causing so much trauma to innocent people,” said Shakes.
Now every day, except for Sunday, Shakes leads about 20 members of the Khayelitsha Neighbourhood Watch on bicycle patrol in Mew Way, protecting pupils from four schools in upper Litha Park.
“We were approached by schools in that area after it became apparent that children were targets of thugs. We now patrol streets along False Bay College, COSAT, Intshayelelo Primary and Manyano High School,” he said.
Shakes said they carry sjamboks to fend off the criminals because they are often armed.
“These sjamboks come in handy because now the criminals are even targeting us. Just two months ago they robbed us of two bicycles at gunpoint,” he said.
One of the bicycles has been recovered but investigations for the second one are at an advanced stage.
Khayelitsha Community Police Forum chairman, Lunga Guza, hailed the group for its work in the area and urged citizens to protect schools in their surroundings.
“Our community must value their schools and the protection of our children,” he added.