More than 100 people shot in PE gang violence this year

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 A total of 101 people have been shot and wounded and 36 killed in gang-related violence in the Northern Areas of Port Elizabeth this year.

That's according to Eastern Cape Safety, Liaison and Transport MEC, Weziwe Tikana,

Replying to a written question from the EFF in the Bhisho Legislature, MEC Tikana said 71 people had been shot and 20 killed in Gelvandale while 30 people had been shot and 16 killed in Bethelsdorp.

Three of those shot were female and 134 males who were between the ages of 12 and 50.

Tikana said that 118 people had been arrested since the beginning of the year but there had been no successful prosecutions with all cases still pending.

She said that 14 police members and 12 vehicles had been allocated to the gang unit.

Tikana said a provincial anti-gang strategy was in place along with an anti-drug trafficking strategy, adding that the police had established strategic partnerships with a number of civil society organisations.

She said that importantly there was “improved trust” between the police and community, adding that 70% of successes “are attributed to information received from members of the community”.

Tikana said her department made both planned and unannounced visits to police stations in the Northern Areas that included “conducting a police accountability engagement”.

She said the situation had “now relatively stabilised with fewer incidents being reported”.

(Source: Metro Minute to subscribe mail metminutes@iafrica.com)