Father calls for action as gang violence and police corruption allegations deepen

A father in Wentworth, whose teenage daughter was shot in a crossfire between rival gangs, has called for action amid allegations of gang violence and police corruption. Deon Varcoe, 57, spoke out after the killing of his daughter Joshlyn, who was struck in the chest during a drive-by shooting in 2021. Varcoe, a community leader and pastor, attributed the violence to poverty and a "fatherless society" that drives young people to join gangs and engage in criminal activity.

The recent Madlanga Commission hearings revealed allegations of deep police corruption linked to gang wars in Wentworth and Bluff. These allegations came to light as gunfire continued daily in the area, with no police intervention. Gregory Loftus, the father of alleged gang leader Bevan Loftus, testified that his son was killed as part of a R2.5 million paid hit by Hawks members in April 2023.

Police claimed Bevan was involved in several killings, including the March 2023 drive-by shooting of Brandon Puff Kalicharan and his family.

Despite these claims, Bevan's alleged killer, Deena Govender, testified that violence in the Wentworth area had dropped to zero following his death. However, Varcoe dismissed Govender's claims, stating that violence had not ceased and had instead resulted in innocent lives being lost. Varcoe's daughter, now a first-year medical student, was also shot during the drive-by attack. Despite receiving miraculous medical treatment, another young person was killed a year after the initial incident.

Varcoe expressed his frustration with the police's lack of action and faith in their ability to address the social ills and gang violence plaguing his community. He called for the government to prioritize a plan of action to address the underlying issues driving the violence in Wentworth.