Key Takeaways:
- A 9-year-old boy, Zechariah Matthee, was killed in a targeted gang hit in Rocklands, Mitchells Plain, along with his aunt and another man.
- The house where the shooting took place is believed to be a known gang and drug hangout, and residents are calling for it to be condemned.
- The City’s Problem Building Unit (PBU) has not listed the property as a problem building, despite multiple shootings and gang-related incidents occurring there.
- Residents and community leaders are calling for the government to step up and enforce laws, such as the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, to address the gang violence in the area.
- The police have launched an intensive manhunt and assigned the Anti-Gang Unit to investigate the case.
Introduction to the Tragedy
The December school holidays were supposed to be a time of excitement and joy for 9-year-old Zechariah Matthee, but his life was tragically cut short when he was shot and killed in a targeted gang hit in Rocklands, Mitchells Plain. Zechariah was hiding in a cupboard in his home when he was shot, and his aunt, Cleo Bailey, 19, and another man, Mougsheen Daniels, 26, were also killed in the incident. The shooting is believed to be gang-related, and residents are calling for the house where it took place to be condemned.
The History of the Problem House
The house at 10 Viscount Street, Rocklands, has a long history of gang-related activity and has been the site of multiple shootings and murders. It is believed to be the stronghold of the Fancy Boys gang, and rivals the Americans have been known to target the property. In August, two men were shot and killed at the same residence in a gang-related incident. Despite this, the City’s Problem Building Unit (PBU) has not listed the property as a problem building, with spokesperson Wayne Dyason confirming that it is private property and not currently under investigation.
Community Reaction and Demands
The community is outraged and demanding action from the government to address the gang violence in the area. Residents, including the Community Policing Forum (CPF), Civic Organisations, and ratepayers, are calling for the house to be condemned and for the government to enforce laws such as the Prevention of Organised Crime Act. A resident who asked not to be named called for the house to be petrol bombed and destroyed, asking "How many more must die?" The Mitchells Plain Community Policing Forum chairperson, Norman Jantjies, pleaded with rival gangs to create a ceasefire as the school holidays begin.
Government Response and Investigation
The police have launched an intensive manhunt and assigned the Anti-Gang Unit to investigate the case. Police spokesperson Colonel Andrè Traut confirmed that the police are working to secure the safety of the community and remove children from dangerous situations. Ward councillor, Danny Christians, has promised to see to it that a report is filed to have the house listed as a problem building, and the City’s Law Enforcement has confirmed that they will investigate the property. The grandmother of Zechariah and Cleo Bailey has indicated that she wants to sell the house following the deaths and her mother’s passing, and does not want to be in the house anymore.
Calls for Action and Change
Community leaders, including Linda Jones of the CPF and Mitchells Plain United Residents Association (MURA), are calling for the government to step up and enforce laws to address the gang violence in the area. Lynn Philipps, of the Cape Flats Safety Forum, has called for the house to be condemned, stating that it has become a "graveyard" due to the multiple murders and shootings that have taken place there. Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC Anroux Marais has stated that the police are mandated to secure the safety of children, which includes removing them from dangerous situations and contacting the Department of Social Development to ensure their wellbeing. The community is demanding action and change to address the gang violence and ensure that no more innocent lives are lost.
