In the past week, residents have been caught in a gang war between rival gangs, the Americans, the Fancy Boys, Hard Livings and Clever Kids which saw seven people shot.
More than 17 people have been arrested and over four firearms and ammunition were confiscated this week.
Residents have been gripped with fear due to the violence and they feel trapped inside their homes as the shootings continue unabated.
A woman who has an elderly mother and children of her own said they were stressed after seeing dead bodies in the road.
“With load shedding it is traumatising, I think we should be exempted because the shootings just continue. I cannot even focus at work, because you have to worry about when you are going home. I have avoided going to the shops because of the shootings.
“I have to keep my children out of school, because you don’t know when they will start shooting. When you come home sometimes, you see bodies lying in the street. We are living in fear and we cannot even go and purchase a bread because you don’t know when it's going to end; we are drained.
“We want more police to be visible, because when there is no police the shootings start. I run from the back to the front of the house when the shootings start.”
A faith leader, who asked not to be named for fear of being targeted, said he had chosen work opportunities in another province due to the violence.
“One of the reasons why I took this opportunity: we have children and the violence gets to you. My children were already saying that they couldn’t play outside and they don’t want to live here anymore.
“This is why I had to do this, to be away from the gang violence and not to hear the gunshots… my heart is with my community and my family who still live there.”
This week, Mayco member for Safety and Security, JP Smith revealed that out of the 640 firearms and ammunition confiscated in the past 18 months, six convictions were secured, leaving the gun wars and gun sales to continue in communities like Manenberg.
Manenberg police station commander, Brigadier Sanele Zama, also called for residents to reveal who was behind the shootings.
“We ask the community to stand together and report gangs’ illegal activity. If the community wants peace, parents need to give up their sons and daughters that are involved in this violent conflict within the area.
“How many young people must still die before this shooting stops?
“Peace talks between gangs will not work and will never work. The community needs to be more serious about breaking the back of gangs by giving up the perpetrators.”
Smith earlier said that in the country, the Western Cape had contributed to the majority of figures for gang-related shootings.
“Nearly 87% of all gang-related murders occurred in the Western Cape over the last quarter. Next in line was Gauteng, with 7%,” he said.
”Then four of our provinces didn't record a single gang-related murder,“ Smith added.
He called on Police Minister Bheki Cele to get police to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty.
“Minister Cele, our communities have been crying for help for years already; we have been begging for the police resources. But you continue to deny the issues at hand,” he said.
“Every single murder is your responsibility. From this day onwards, every single murder will be blood on your hands.”
MEC for Police Oversight and Community Safety, Reagen Allen, also visited Manenberg this week:“The latest flare-ups are a deep worry. I feel for the residents of Manenberg, as they are being held hostage by heartless gangsters. Living in fear is not what we want for any community across the Western Cape.”