Criminology and Psychology

Increased gang violence on the Cape Flats has infuriated residents, some of whom have called for the army to patrol their streets. Warrant Officer Hermanus van Dyk, spokesman for the Steenberg police, said one gangster had been shot dead and 10 bystanders had been wounded in six shooting incidents during this past week in Lavender Hill. “One victim, Imeraan de Villiers, a well-known gang member and his friend, Glenville Sims, 32, were walking down St Beatrice Street when an unknown male on a bicycle shot at them several times.” He said De Villiers had been declared dead at the scene and Sims had been rushed to Victoria Hospital. In a separate incident on Sunday, a 30-year-old man, Sebastian Johnson, had died after he was stabbed in the back and the neck. Van Dyk said Steenberg police were searching for a suspect who was on the run. “At about 2.55pm, two rival gang members from the Mongrels and the Corner Boys had an argument in an alley in Lavender Hill. Johnson ...