Cape Town - Manenberg’s top cop has hung up his lapels and said his final goodbyes to colleagues after serving at the helm of one of the most notorious gang communities for nearly a decade.
Brigadier Sanele Zama retired this week after recently turning 60 years old, having served in the SAPS for 38 years.
Originally from KwaZulu-Natal, Zama said he was inspired by his late grandmother to join the public services in the 1980s.
“She worked as a teacher in the riots and that spurred my love for the community and public service so I enrolled in the SAPS college in Hammanskraal in 1986.”
In 1995 he arrived in Cape Town and worked at various stations including Table View, Lwandle and Macassar, before being transferred to Manenberg in 2015.
Zama, who served as the Visible Policing Commander, said he spent many days at the coalface coming faceto-face with gangs and gunmen amid bloody gang wars that Manenberg had become notorious for. In 2019 he was promoted to station commander and given the rank of brigadier.
He explained that during this time, the Manenberg precinct was hard hit by the consequences of the murders of Hard Livings (HL) gang boss Rashied Staggie, and later the assassination of Staggie’s son, Abdullah Boonzaaier.
“After his father was killed many pointed a finger at Dullah. He always felt entitled to the HL throne and even started the Terrible HLs in Woodstock.
“It was a very interesting time for the people of Manenberg as some sought revenge, and the grand funeral they hosted for Staggie.”
In recent years, the Fancy Boys gangs had started making their way into Manenberg, sparking widespread wars as they muscled their way in.
“We had never seen a takeover like that before. The information was that the Fancy Boys had good quality drugs and initially they were the Stupa Boys here, a very small grouping.
“Now with the help of the Clever Kidz they had mass takeovers and in some areas you don’t even see Americans or HLs anymore.”
Zama said the slashing of police resources, which saw a reduction of more than 100 staff members, added to the pressure he faced.
He said SAPS bosses needed to do more to resource “gang stations”.
“They say Manenberg is a gang station but it is not if you look at the resources.”
He said the introduction of the Anti-Gang Unit nearly “killed the station” as resources were promptly taken away.
“That AGU nearly killed us. Overnight they took eight of our best detectives away from the Serious and Violent Crimes Unit. Now that Unit was known for tackling complex cases under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act and overnight it was gone and we had to start fresh. My advice to the SAPS management is that if you see something is working, leave it alone.”
Zama said he was eager to get some rest as he retired, and to play a more active role in his church.
“I am going back home to my family and may even join the MK Party,” he joked.
Cape Argus