Gang Members Respect People As They Break Their Fast In Manenberg. Approximately 2000 residents gathered to break fasting at the heart of Cape Town’s ganglands.
Approximately 2000 residents gathered to break fasting at the heart of Cape Town’s ganglands. The people gathered on Sunday evening. The congregations of many faiths and the Muslims occupied a very dangerous street in Mananenberg to make space for tables and a huge amount of food for their feast.
The residents had the pleasure of taking delight in the “Boeka innie Laan” for the second consecutive year. Die Laan is a street that is famous for separating multiple gangs in Manenberg. The street is also known for the high amoung of gang related activities such as gang shootings and illegal gang actions.
The member of the event, Salieg Isaacs, says the area was cheerful because the gang members chose to put down their murder items because they respect Eid. Eid is a holiday that is honoured by Muslim people as a way of ending the Ramadan period. Salieg Isaacs says, “Many of the gangsters were present, but they stand away from the tables and don’t disrupt proceedings in any way out of respect for the community.”
Isaacs carries on saying that the gang members were all very calm. The ward councillor of the area, Aslam Cassiem, says events such as this one are accepted as a disturbance to the normal violent activities in the streets. Cassiem says these types of events bring the residents of all faiths together as they pause the illegal gang activities that happen in Manenberg. The ward councillor says that he hopes these types of events stop crime in the area one day.
Pic: Times Media
by Alexandra Ramaite
