Killings bring Brooklyn to the brink

A series of violent attacks in Brooklyn has left three men dead and a community gripped by fear.

In the most recent incident, a 35-year-old Congolese man was shot dead at a Koeberg Road restaurant and pub on Sunday May 28.

Police are investigating a murder, but no arrests have been made, according to provincial police spokesman Captain FC van Wyk.

“The suspect suspect fled on foot and is yet to be arrested,” he said.

When Tabletalk visited the restaurant last Thursday, staff declined to comment and told us to phone after 5pm “when the boss is around”, but later calls went unanswered.

The shooting happened the day after the funeral of Keenan “Kiyaam” Hassen, 37, a Brooklyn father of three, who was attacked in Justin Street on Monday May 22.

A community activist, who does not want to be named, fearing victimisation, said Mr Hassen was stabbed in the head with a broken beer bottle. He died on Wednesday May 24 after being taken off life support at Groote Schuur Hospital.

“Kiyaam was known as Brooklyn’s Danny K, who had such an angelic voice,” she said.

Captain Van Wyk directed further questions to the Milnerton police, but they did not respond by deadline.

On Friday May 19, just three days before Mr Hassen was attacked, another Brooklyn man, Michael Callum, 42, was stoned with bricks by two youths on Silva Street as he walked to a shop, say police.

He was also placed on life support at Groote Schuur Hospital and died on Sunday May 21.

Provincial police spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Malcom Pojie said police were investigating a murder, and a 15-year-old and an 18-year-old had been arrested on Wednesday May 24.

Both Mr Callum’s and Mr Hassen’s families declined to comment.

Community activist Carmen Munnik said Mr Callum, a father of three, would do “anything to support his boys”, and she urged the public to donate non-perishable foods to the family.

“I myself am a single mother of four kids that I'm trying to raise here in Brooklyn, so I know the struggle theses kids and their mom are now faced with,” she said, adding that Brooklyn was on the “brink of collapse”.

“I grew up here. I used to walk theses streets at 3am home from a club, and we never had crap like this. If someone was robbed or approached in the street, it would be sorted out the next day and your belongings returned because we looked out for each other. My generation is still here, but it's almost as if the new kids on the block have just moved in and are starting to take over. No respect like we had back in my day. I'm too scared to even let my kids play in the street because Brooklyn is getting worse.”

Suleigah Damons said she had moved to Brooklyn eight years ago to get away from crime in Kensington and give her daughters a better life, but she now fears that he has made a big mistake.

“You are not safe here, we are living in fear. If you walk to the main road (Koeberg Road), you will hear shots going off in broad daylight.”

Cheryl Castle, a member of the Brooklyn, Ysterplaat Neighbourhood Watch, said Brooklyn had been left to spiral into a slum by the authorities, and Milnerton and Maitland police stations lacked staff and resources.

Cameras at crime hot spots could help to turn things around, but that would need community support, she said.

“Formerly our crimes were mainly petty, but, as of late, the crimes are becoming more heinous. This is becoming more prevalent with the overcrowding, unemployment, and just a general lack of continuous visible policing in the area.”

Community activist Fay Vogel, who has lived in Brooklyn for 23 years, said her children had once played in the street without fear. She had joined civic groups to help stop crime rising, but nothing had changed.

“Nothing major has happened for this community, despite our complaints and pleas to the police and law enforcement agencies to help us rid the community of crime.”

Both Milnerton and Maitland police stations failed to respond to questions we sent them about crime in the area.

Maitland Community Police Forum chairman Justin Kumlehn said they were concerned about the recent fatal attacks, and he urged residents to report crime and police inaction.

“Police stations that are understaffed is a major problem and that issue is not going to be solved any time soon. We ask the community to please get involved and support community initiatives such as the neighbourhood watches, and the community initiatives to help the fight against crime.”