Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za
2-minute read
03 May 2025 | 14:10 CAT

A young girl in Eldorado Park holds a placard reading “Save Our Children” — a heart-wrenching plea from a community caught in the crossfire of gang violence. (Photo by Gallo Images / Foto24 / Denzil Maregele)

Three lives lost. One person clinging to life. Another bloodstained weekend in Eldorado Park, where gang-related violence continues to spiral out of control — and residents say they’ve had enough.

Michael Sun of the Democratic Alliance (DA) has called out Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi for what he terms “a string of broken promises” to the embattled community. “In 2022, Premier Lesufi said that he’d send helicopters and drones to combat crime,” said Sun. “Yet here we are, still counting the dead.”

This latest incident, believed to be part of a turf war between rival gangs, saw two young men gunned down in broad daylight, their vehicle riddled with bullets. Days later, another life was lost. “It’s becoming untenable,” said Sun, describing how both young men and women are increasingly drawn into gang life, driven by poverty and the lure of fast cash and power.

But while the community mourns, anger mounts. “People are terrified. The elderly, the children — they’re caught in a war zone,” said Sun. “And every time a tragedy strikes, politicians arrive, make promises, and disappear.”

Sun argues the crisis is rooted in deeper socio-economic failures. “The youth are trapped in a cycle. They don’t see opportunity, so they reach for guns instead of books.” He called on the government to fund intelligence-led policing and to roll out community development initiatives that steer youth toward education and employment.

Crucially, he noted the province has no MEC for Community Safety, with that function now under the Premier’s office. “Premier Lesufi must be held accountable. We’ll be writing to the Community Safety Portfolio Committee chairperson to demand his presence and answers.”

As yet another family plans a funeral, the DA’s warning is clear: “This cannot be just another killing. If no action is taken, there will be another. And another.”

The questions remain: How many more must die before safety is more than a soundbite?

Listen to the full interview on The Daily Round-Up with Annisa Essack and Micheal Sun here.