Gang violence shut Manenberg housing estate

By Tarryn Le Chat
24 March 2007

The Manenberg Housing Estate office has been temporarily closed following gang violence and the threat it poses to the staff in the area.

The office is situated on the border of two rival gangs in the area. Regular shootouts take place around the office and these have meant the facility has had to be closed on a regular basis over the past few months.

Grace Blouw, manager of the existing settlements for the City of Cape Town says that, “On several occasions staff have had to hide under their desks until the violence subsides and it is safe for them to leave the premises. They have been severely traumatised and their health badly effected.”

“It has become very difficult for maintenance staff to work in the area as they are being mugged and robbed on a daily basis,” says Blouw.

Alternative arrangements will be put in place to ensure that a level of service delivery prevails during the temporary closure of the facility.