A 24-year-old man, allegedly a former member of the American gang who had turned his life around, was laid to rest on Wednesday after being brutally gunned down in broad daylight while on his way to mosque in Manenberg.
Thaaqib Johnson was killed on 5 July, allegedly by members of the rival Fancy Boys gang, according to sources speaking to the Daily Voice.
The source stated: "He was on his way to mosque on Saturday at 3.30pm for a prayer. Shots were fired from a red car, witnesses said the shooters got out, went to sit on top of him and emptied guns on him in his face and chest. He was shot two steps away from the entrance gate of the mosque. People should know this [man] was changing his life for the better and was cowardly shot by Fancy Boys in the back of his head on his way to prayer."
Manenberg station commander Brigadier Jayce Naidoo confirmed the murder, stating that the deceased was gunned down in broad daylight.
An acquaintance of Thaaqib said he was walking in Gonubie Road to meet up for supper but decided to go to mosque first before getting the food.
The acquaintance said: "I’m not dealing with it so well. It’s very very difficult as for me I’ve known him for so long. Every day I just think he’s coming back but nothing, no Thaaqib no more."
Tragically, Thaaqib's father, Irefaan Johnson, 43, who was also an alleged Americans gang member, was gunned down while leaving Athlone Magistrates Court in February.
The murder comes amid ongoing efforts by police to clamp down on gang violence and illegal firearms in the Cape Flats.
Meanwhile, in Mitchells Plain, crime fighters are calling for smarter policing as the South African Police Service (SAPS) rounded up more guns in the gang-infested suburb.
This week, the provincial police reported seizing a number of illegal firearms on the Cape Flats. According to the cops, they have confiscated nine guns innie Plain since Monday as they clamp down after five people were killed and seven wounded during sporadic shootings last weekend.
In one raid on a suspected "pella pos" (drug den) on Du Toitskloof Street, Tafelsig, the police found four brand new firearms and an assortment of ammunition hidden in the "dak" (roof) of the house.
Police spokesperson Malcolm Pojie said a 28-year-old man was arrested and is expected to appear in court soon.
He said: "These seizures emanate from the bolstered deployments to prevent further occurrences of gang violence. The members then found four firearms – three Glock 9mm pistols and a CZ pistol, some without serial numbers, and an assortment of ammunition concealed in a transparent bag in the roof of the house."
Mitchells Plain Community Policing Forum (CPF) chairperson Norman Jantjies said they were concerned about the emergence of new guns.
He said: "The CPF is happy to hear that more illegal firearms are being retrieved. Of course people are a bit skeptical and wondering how it will be managed because of the disappearance on two occasions of firearms at Mitchells Plain SAPS. We hope that it will lead to fewer shooting incidents and murders and we ask the community members to share information confidentially with SAPS."
The incidents highlight the ongoing challenges faced by communities on the Cape Flats, where gang violence and illegal firearms continue to plague the area. The death of Thaaqieb Johnson, a man who was reportedly trying to turn his life around, underscores the devastating impact of gang violence on individuals and families.
The SAPS's efforts to seize illegal firearms are a welcome step, but community leaders are calling for a more comprehensive and sustainable approach to tackling gang violence, including addressing the root causes of crime and building trust between the police and the community.
The CPF's concerns about the management of seized firearms are also significant, given past incidents of firearms disappearing from police custody. Ensuring the proper handling and disposal of seized weapons is crucial to prevent them from falling back into the hands of criminals.
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