The park integrates cutting-edge security features such as secure entrances and panic buttons, providing parents and guardians with the added assurance that comprehensive measures have been implemented to safeguard the play space from the nation’s firearm crisis.

Cape Flats Safety Forum chairperson Abie Isaacs says they are set to be briefed soon on the proposal when various issues such as locations will be discussed.

He said as the community was plagued by gang violence, many parents feared a gang bullet would strike their children.

“We welcome the proposal as we believe parks should be a safe space for children. We have seen the rapid dilapidation of our parks as they have now become the homes for gangs to carry out their activities. Right now the parks are at the centre of shootings, drug dealings and other nefarious acts.

“We are going into a briefing soon to understand a bit more about how this will work. As things stand, an area has not been identified, but there are major concerns for the community of Beacon Valley which is gripped in fights between various major gangs.

“Some of the issues we will look at are the nuts and bolts of this park. How will it work? Who will fund it? How will we ensure gangsters don’t have access?” Isaacs asked.

“Over a 20-year period, nearly half of the children under 12 admitted to Cape Town’s Children’s hospital were victims of crossfire. Bulletproof Park is an outrageous solution to an outrageous problem.”