Cachalia describes Reiger Park shooting as a merciless killing – SABC News – Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader.

Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia has described the murder of four people, including two police officers, in Reiger Park, east of Johannesburg, as a merciless killing that is gang-related.

Two Anti-Gang Unit officers and two women civillians were shot and killed on Friday night.

The officers were responding to gang-related shootings in the area, while the two women were shot as they were about to get into a vehicle after coming from a shop.

Cachalia is visiting Reiger Park this Sunday afternoon, where he was taken to the scene of crime.

He says some of these gangsters are heavily armed and show no mercy.

“So, these gangs are not happy with destroying families … (and now resort) to murder those trying to keep community safe. This is intolerable.”

VIDEO | Reiger Park Shooting | Cachalia condemns “merciless” murder of four, including two police officers

Cachalia says the government is determined to tackle gang violence and organised crime.

He says more than a R1 billion has been allocated to policing gang-affected areas, while the army’s deployment remains a temporary measure. He says poverty, marginalisation and limited opportunities are contributing to the recruitment of youths into gangs.

“The government and the police service have been trying to respond. We allocated over a billion rand to support policing of areas affected by gang violence. And why? Because we know that our communities, if they don’t have safety and security, our communities cannot flourish, cannot make progress. So, safety and security is not negotiable. We appointed General Mkhwanazi to lead the fight against organized crime,” he says.