Safety awareness campaign called off amid shootings in Ottery

Grassy Park CPF had to cancel a safety event amid shootings and funerals in the area. Picture: Bheki Radebe

Grassy Park CPF had to cancel a safety event amid shootings and funerals in the area. Picture: Bheki Radebe

Published Apr 20, 2022

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Grassy Park Community Policing Forum had to call off their safety campaign planned for coming Saturday.

The announcement comes after two more people were gunned down in the Ottery, Lotus River area on Tuesday.

The CPF planned to host a campaign to stop attacks on uniformed staff.

The aim of the campaign was to raise awareness on attacks on uniformed staff and also visit Ottery April 23.

However, as a result of the recent spike in gang violence and out of respect for the families of the victims who's funerals will take place on Saturday the event was called off.

In a statement the CPF said the event had to be cancelled because of the constant shootings and volatile situation in the Ottery area.

Grassy Park CPF was to host a stop the attack on uniformed staff this coming Saturday. Picture: Supplied

Meanwhile, ward councillor for ward 65 consisting of Lotus River, Parkwood and Grassy Park, Donovan Nelson rejected the calls from some residents in Ottery to have the Grassy Park station commander removed.

A WhatsApp voice note and poster calling for his removal has been circulating on social media.

The poster which Weekend Argus has seen calls on residents to meet outside of the Grassy Park police station on Wednesday with their placards.

Nelson said he was saddened by the poster because it was driven by politics.

"While I praise the community for their heroic act in keeping the SAPS accountable, and ensuring that we bring the guilty suspects to book; I have to caution against opportunists using the death of innocent children to score cheap political points.

"Our communities are suffering because of national cuts to the police budgets and a failing justice system that releases gunmen on R500 bail.

"This should be the real cry of our communities, not futile actions driven by so called "leaders."