The Democratic Alliance in the Western Cape is alarmed at reports that gangsters in the province have access to Uzis and R5 assault rifles and are using them in gang warfare.Responding to the reports‚ DA member of the provincial legislature Daylin Mitchell called for the South African Police Service to reinstate anti-gang units in the Western Cape.“I will submit written questions to the Minister of Community Safety in the Western Cape‚ Dan Plato‚ to determine whether his Department is aware of the use of assault rifles such as the R5 in gang warfare‚” Mitchell said.He said that in what appeared to be drive-by shootings‚ youths in their 20s were gunned down on the Cape Flats this last weekend. A 25-year-old man was shot dead in Bonteheuwel and in Manenberg‚ a 28-year-old man was shot dead on his way home from work.“This wanton gang violence causes serious danger to community members who are vulnerable to being killed in the crossfire‚” Mitchell said. He said Uzis were introduced in South Africa in the 1980s during the period of state oppression.“The tail end of apartheid saw this weapon being used as an aid to police domination. The use of Uzis has since been discontinued and only military personnel have access to them. Their use in gang-warfare suggests that there may be a breach in military security‚ if gangsters are gaining access to these weapons‚” Mitchell added. Policing was a national mandate‚ he said. This limited the powers of the Western Cape Department of Community Safety to that of oversight.“As such‚ I reiterate calls made by the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Community Safety in the Western Cape‚ Mireille Wenger MPP‚ for the National Government to reinstate the anti-gang units in the Western Cape. This is but one instance of the severe police under-resourcing in the province.“South Africans must have their basic human rights protected‚ as enshrined in the Bill of Rights. We must have the freedom to raise our families in safe communities where we can access opportunities without danger. The DA in the Western Cape will continue to do all that it can to make our communities safe‚” Mitchell said...