Police failed to heed warnings which could have prevented the Cape Town vigilante killing of an alleged gang leader, said the former head of a watchdog group overseeing investigations into police corruption.
As war psychosis simmering in the Cape Flats threatens to erupt into full-scale war, criminologist Wilfred SchSrf said the police had been aware that vigilantes were ready to resort to violence against alleged drug dealers.
“A week before a group of these people marched on the house of a dealer and opened fire on the house. It was a clear sign that things were coming to a head.”
SchSrf, who has stepped down from his watchdog position, said he had little success in rooting out “systematic corruption”.
As criticisms of police inaction flooded in from the National Police Commissioner George Fivaz and Safety and Security Minister Sydney Mufamadi, local representative Captain John Sterrenberg admitted that insufficient men had been on duty to monitor the demonstration on Sunday night.
“We had been assured the march would be peaceful, by the time the shooting started it was too late to call in reinforcement.”
Meanwhile People Against Gangsterism and Drugs (Pagad), the organisation responsible for the brutal murder of gang leader Rashaad Staggie, appears to be gearing up for further clashes with gangsters.
On Tuesday night, Pagad marshalled about 3 000 people to march down one of the busiest roads on the Cape Flats. They carried automatic and semi- automatic rifles, shotguns and a host of handguns openly or hidden under clothing. Police looked on as they set off down Klipfontein Road, Gatesville. Two police Casspirs parked nearby and a police helicopter swept the area constantly.
The crowd massed on a field at 10.30pm. A young man began issuing commands, herding people into lines and cajoling them to be disciplined. He called for the “G-men” (gunmen) to move to the front, and there was an almost instantaneous response from pistol- wielding people.
“We are going to a gangster place nearby, we are going to march there tonight. Are you prepared?” he shouted. The response was heartily affirmative. “Who are we?” he asked. “The people of the Cape Flats against drugs,” was the roared response.
“Kill the merchants [drug dealers],” he exhorted. “We are going to take back the streets tonight.”
At 11.15pm, the crowd set off. Accompanied by a convoy of police vehicles, they entered Klipfontein Road. The young man used the loudhailer’s siren to drill the marchers in their cue to fall to the ground, while the “G-men” took up position on the flank of the marchers.
One block down, six police vehicles were parked outside a house. Members of the crowd explained the house belonged to a suspected drug dealer and was bombarded by gunfire by Pagad members last Thursday.
“Do you see what is happening? The police are warning the merchants that we are coming. They’re protecting the merchants from us,” shouted an almost hysterical woman.
The crowd dispersed peacefully at 12.30am, except for the armed guards who stayed to protect the Gatesville mosque through the night.
Support for Pagad came from an unusual source this week. Justice Minister Dullah Omar said the organisation had “wakened the soul of the community”.
“You can’t brand a group of people committed to fighting crime vigilantes. To attach such a label is wrong, it demonises people,” said Omar.
“The tragedy of what happened in Salt River has suddenly mobilised communities and can have good results. I am not saying you have to kill people to have good results, but now the authorities are sitting up, listening and planning. We should use the atmosphere that has been created to good effect.”
He said people who committed crime had to be arrested after proper investigation, corruption among law enforcers had to be eradicated and the community had to assist by giving statements to the police and testifying in court.
Despite many of Pagad’s members reportedly describing their war against drugs as a jihad, the organisation says it is not comprised solely of Muslims.
Pagad said Omar was given an “ultimatum” on May 11, with 60 days to take decisive action. Omar was told if the deadline was not met, the process would change to peaceful action on the streets.
On July 1, Pagad decided to deliver “ultimatums” to gang leaders calling on them to end their illegal activities. In the past two weeks, they claim to have delivered 16 warnings.
The visit to Staggie’s home on Sunday was organised to hand over a warning to him and his twin brother Rashied Staggie, co-leader of the Hard Livings gang. The organisation claimed Rashaad Staggie arrived and, in a “highly provocative manner”, drove his vehicle through a police cordon in the direction of the crowd.
“Converging at that point in time on to the highly volatile, enraged and panic-stricken crowd ultimately led to his death,” was the only explanation given for the shot to Staggie’s head which immediately disabled him, the petrol bomb flung at him and the bullets which shattered his body.