Residents of Wentworth, south of Durban, took to the streets on December 1, 2025, to protest escalating gang violence and drug-related crime. The demonstration followed a deadly gang turf battle earlier in the month that left two people dead and seven injured. Community members called for greater government intervention to address the unsafe conditions plaguing their neighborhood.
In a show of frustration and unity, people from Wentworth gathered for a large-scale march against the persistent threat of gang activity. The area has seen ongoing shootings that have disrupted everyday life, with residents expressing fears for their safety amid rising incidents of violence, including rape, domestic abuse, and gender-based violence.
Parents joined the protest carrying empty coffins as a poignant symbol of the young lives lost to the turmoil. They demanded that authorities prioritize their community by deploying more resources to curb the crime wave.
Local resident Darian Smith voiced the community's readiness to collaborate with officials. "If we can spend billions and millions on parties and inaugurations and all of this, can you not just send five police vans here? Can you not send more police officers especially with the rates of violence that exist within this community? Not just shootings, but rape, domestic violence, and gender-based violence. There’s a range of things going on, and it’s about time that government come to the party," Smith said.
The event, reported by SABC News correspondent Jayed Paulse, highlights the urgent need for enhanced policing in Wentworth. While the protest aimed to draw attention to immediate dangers, it also underscored broader calls for systemic support to restore peace in the suburb.