Wentworth community expresses frustration over excessive drug use, violence

Residents of Wentworth, south of Durban, have expressed grave frustration over excessive drug use and violence in their community.

On Monday, community members demonstrated, saying they are living in fear, as gunshots have become a common sound in their neighbourhoods.

In November, a mass shooting claimed two lives in the area and left seven others injured.

Community members, including children, dressed in black, with placards reading “coloured lives and all lives matter”, started their picket at the local police station on Monday.

The demonstration ended at a local community hall, where an official programme was held in the presence of police.

Residents said the loss of lives due to alleged drug related violence is worrying, as their children can no longer walk freely in the streets.

Community leader Elaine Pieterse said, “We have this morning, noon and night, I was woken up at 1 am in the morning by ringing on gunshots going off and seeing on WhatsApp group that people had to jump off their beds and lay on the floors just for safety for reasons,and we are saying where is SAPS [South African Police Service] right now? Where is SAPS when people are calling?”

Meanwhile, another resident, Darian Smith, said that government must work with the community to overcome the challenges.

“Let us do it together, let us hold hands and maybe that is the only time where we can be able to change things around us.”

The Community Safety Department has vowed to strengthen policing in the area.