Note to editors: Please find attached soundbite by Nicholas Gotsell
The Democratic Alliance (DA) is deeply saddened by the horrific taxi-related shooting in Atlantis this week, which claimed the lives of a taxi driver and a 14-year-old schoolgirl, and left two other learners wounded. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, the school community, and all those affected by this senseless act of violence.
The DA unequivocally condemns the brutality involved in this attack. The fact that this shooting took place outside a school, a space that should be a safe haven for learners, is unacceptable. No child should ever have to fear for their life at school. This incident highlights the devastating consequences of ongoing taxi violence and the urgent need to protect innocent members of our communities, especially children.
The DA remains committed to doing everything in its power to ensure safer communities. This includes our continued push for the expansion of policing powers and greater cooperation across law enforcement agencies. This tragedy is a clear case in point.
The response to violent crime in the Western Cape must increasingly rely on integrated policing, where the City of Cape Town’s Metro Police and Law Enforcement work seamlessly alongside the SAPS to prevent violence, stabilise affected areas, and bring perpetrators to justice.
We will continue to engage with all relevant authorities to ensure that those responsible for this heinous attack are swiftly apprehended and prosecuted. The DA will also intensify its efforts to strengthen intelligence-driven, coordinated law enforcement so that incidents like this are prevented before lives are lost.
Violence cannot be allowed to rob our children of their futures. Safe communities and safe schools are non-negotiable, and the DA will not rest until every resident of the Western Cape can live free from fear.