Hanover Park mother welcomes SANDF deployment amid ongoing fear

A Hanover Park mother, whose son was killed by gangsters, says the imminent deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to gang-ravaged areas in the Western Cape will bring welcome relief to communities gripped in fear.

President Cyril Ramaphosa used his State of the Nation Address last week to announce the deployment of the SANDF to gang-riddled areas in the Western Cape and Gauteng.

READ: ‘Culture of violence’ in gang-infested areas must be addressed to end scourge – expert

Ramaphosa says the SANDF will work with law enforcement agencies to curb gang violence in both provinces.

Hanover Park mother, Kashiefa Mohammed, is still mourning her son, Raffiq, who was stabbed to death by gangsters in the area eight years ago at the age of 17.

"It's so painful to lose a child due to gang violence in Hanover Park. The pain doesn't stop. The grief doesn't stop," Mohammed said.

She added that the violence in the area has gripped the community in fear.

"Nobody's walking outside. Our pensioners are scared to go to the terminus to fetch their pension because they have to duck and dive because of bullets," she said.

Mohammed says the SANDF will bring welcome relief, but she fears the gang violence will continue once the troops leave.