Minister receives memorandum from grieving community
Active Voice, a collaboration of NGOs from KwaThema, with families of murder victims have been successful in organizing a 10km march.
Springs – Active Voice, a collaboration with NGOs from KwaThema, with families of murder victims have been successful in organising a 10km march.
The community of KwaThema was shaken after the gruesome discovery of 52-year-old Anna Eiman’s body, only weeks after Thuto Theko and Refiloe Moshime was murdered in cold blood.
On July 10, Active Voice, with the families of the victims organised a huge march to express their dissatisfaction with the ongoing investigations.
“The narrative of today is about ‘Active Voice’ saying, without community participation, we will not do away with crime, “ said Mondli Gungubele, former mayor of Ekurhuleni and member of parliament.
He believes that it is the community’s responsibility to make sure that they do not create a hub for criminals.
Stephany Leong came to represent the family of Karabo Mokoena whose incinerated remains were found in Johannesburg in May.
Mokeona’s boyfriend was arrested soon after.
The procession marched from KwaThema Hall to hand over a memorandum of grievances to the minister outside Springs policestation.
Kgotso Pooie says: “From the beginning we were clear that we would only hand over the memorandum to the minister himself, and no one else.”
Addressing the public, Minister of Police, Fikile Mbalula, gave a stern warning that his department will longer tolerate corruption and incompetence in the SAPS.
Mbalula admits that the grievances of the community are valid.
“You are not asking for too much.
I don’t know how the police could let some of these things happen.”
The minister says that corrupt and incompetent officers will be dealt with severely.
“Wanya tsotsi! (be careful criminal) We are coming for you.”
He believes that there is a lot of room for improvement.
“Is this a police station or brothel?
If it is a brothel, I will close it down.”
Capt Thabo Sibuyi, spokesperson for SAPS Ekurhuleni East welcomes the grievances of the community, among which was the need for renovations to KwaThema Police Station.
“The community is also concerned with taverners who refuse to close at 2am, when they are supposed to.”
