'I am still alive': Activist Roegshanda Pascoe forced to hide overseas after witness protection ends

CapeTalk's Lester Kiewit is joined by Manenberg activist Roegshanda Pascoe.

Listen below:

For years, community activist and crime fighter Roegshanda Pascoe has been moving from safe house to safe house after being placed on witness protection.

Why? Because she believes she is a target. There are people who want her dead.

In March 2019, unknown gunmen opened fire on her house in Manenberg; her grandchildren were inside the property at the time.

Pascoe became a moving target for gangs as she had witnessed many gang killings and was willing to testify. 

But once she was taken off witness protection and forced to move back to Manenberg, she was once again an open target.

Earlier this week, the activist sent CapeTalk host Lester Kiewit a WhatsApp message, "I am still alive."

Alive, yes. But living in South Africa? No.

ALSO READ: Murder case witness gunned down outside court was not in witness protection, say police

"People outside of the country who I've worked with have come together and said, we're not prepared to let you die... and they paid the ticket for me to leave..."

- Roegshanda Pascoe, community activist 

"I had to face isolation, and that is part of a strategy to silence you... No family wanted to come to the house, and it's put my children and grandkids in a space where... I wouldn't want them to get hurt. Remember, my daughter was shot in 2013 because of me."

- Roegshanda Pascoe, community activist 

Although the danger to her life has been minimised, the isolation remains for Pascoe.

She lives alone (in an undisclosed location overseas); her family, her children and her grandchildren remain in Cape Town.

"They are alone and very vulnerable."

- Roegshanda Pascoe, community activist 

Pascoe accuses the state of not caring about her or her family.

"They don't care what happens to your family, what happens afterwards, you have to take care of yourself and your own safety afterwards. The moment your testimony is over, they are done with you."

- Roegshanda Pascoe, community activist 

Scroll up to listen to the full conversation from Good Morning Cape Town.

ALSO READ: Witness safety in South Africa: 'Competency of law enforcement not sufficient’ - Institute for Security Studies