Newlands East community 'living in fear' following latest shooting
Updated | By Lauren Beukes
The chairperson of the Newlands East Community Policing Forum says the shootings in the area, some of them drug-related, have left the community living in fear.
On Wednesday, a suspected gunman was killed in a shootout with police.
Officers had been tipped off about a possible hit at a school in the area, north of Durban.
They spotted a car whose occupants opened fire when they tried to pull them over.
Police returned fire and the driver was shot, while two other suspects fled and left his body behind.
READ: Suspected hitman killed in shootout with police in Newlands East
The CPF's Allan Peterson residents don't feel safe.
"Our community has become very hostile. You can't even send your child now to buy a loaf of bread, not guaranteed knowing that your child will come home safe because there are innocent casualties that can defiantly take place.
"We have a history of innocent people getting hurt. We understand SAPS is limited in resources. It has become very challenging for them."
Peterson says it's no way to live.
ALSO READ: Witness identifies suspect who tussled with Meyiwa on day of shooting
"It needs to come to a stage where we need to talk to the people and say to them, listen, we understand this drug deal or turf wars - something that is coming from many years of history.
"But the problem is creating such hostile or fear behaviour for the rest of the community where we can't even go to shops safely. It is becoming an issue.
"You cannot allow whatever business or situation you are going through and cause hatred and fear upon all of us in our community."
A manhunt is still underway for the two remaining suspects.
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