Cape Town, South Africa - 31 January 2024: The residents of Beacon Valley, Mitchells Plain, held a community protest to highlight the issues of crime, gangsterism and gang-related shootings in their community. The protest comes two days after a stray bullet from inter-gang shootings struck 12 year old Firdous Kleinsmith at the Ieglaasi Nieyah School in Kyalami Street, Beacon Valley.


Abie Issacs, Chairperson of the Cape Flats Safety Forum, has called for Mitchells Plain police station to be placed under administration after last week’s revelations that 15 guns have gone missing from the station.

Lynn Phillips also with the Cape Flats Safety Forum said during court appearances she has found that the mother’s of suspects often borrow money from drug dealers to pay bail and has called on parents to report the criminal activities of their children.

Newly elected President of the MJC (Muslim Judicial Council) came to support the residents and said the community is fed up and called for people to stop blaming poverty for criminal activity.

Last night members of the anti-crime group PAGAD (People Against Gangsterism and Drugs) took to the streets of Beacon Valley to search for the suspects involved in the shooting. Videos of them torching cars and homes circulated on social media. The police issued a statement saying they have apprehended one suspect and will continue to search for others.

Hundreds of people descended on the family home of Firdous Kleinsmith in Lentegeur to see her being laid to rest today.