The EXPRESS previously ran a story where residents along Sixth Avenue were complaining about the area becoming infested with drug dealers.
In the story, community leader Mrs Faradiba Morton, said there were houses and people known to everybody in the community who were dealing in drugs.
“There are houses known as being drug hot-spots. When we call the police, the only thing we get is a reference number. These people are killing our children. Nobody is hearing our cry,” she said.
Mrs Morton added that sometimes police officers come when they are called but no arrests are made.
She even suggested that the officers who work in the area must be redeployed to other areas.
“Maybe they have worked here for too long that they have become friends with local criminals. Maybe we need to get new officers who will treat us as equals, not as friends,” she said.
The concerns formed part of the petition sent to the Jeppe SAPS, the Ward 118 councillor and the Jeppe SAPS Community Police Forum.
The Jeppe SAPS station commander, Brigadier Govindsamy Mariemuthoo, said he ordered his team to give the area special attention.
“I would like to apologise for not responding in time. I was on leave when the petition arrived. My officer alerted me to the issues. There is also an intelligence investigation going on in the area. We have been observing the area for some time now,” he said.
Brig Mariemuthoo urged the community to come forward with information about crime.
“Report everything that you think can help us curb this scourge in our community. If you do not find joy in the response of our officers, you can come to my office. When I come back from leave I will get a report from my team and we will do a follow up on this and the other cases reported to us,” he said.
The Jeppe SAPS Community Police Forum Sector 1 chairperson, Mr Zola Dambula, concurred with Brig Mariemuthoo.
“As the community, we cannot blame the police for not doing their jobs if we do not give them information. Let us work together to eradicates crime in our area. It is through a community partnership with the SAPS that we will take back our streets. We have to take back our streets or else criminals will do it,” said Mr Dambula.
The Ward 118 councillor, Clr Mike Spadino, said he passed the petition on to the relevant authorities.
He promised he would do follow ups with them.
“I spoke to the Community Police Forum, the Jeppe SAPS management and I also sent the petition to council. The petition committee will get comments from all the departments and will then come back with a way forward. I will be interacting with all the affected parties to ensure this is dealt with,” said Clr Spadino.
