A special imbizo held in Khutsong last week allowed community members to raise their concerns over issues in the area.

Merafong was a hive of activity on September 3 as it hosted the Premier’s Service Delivery Integrated Programme.

Although Premier Panyaza Lesufi did not arrive as planned, the MEC for Infrastructure Development and the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Jacob Mamabolo, led the proceedings.

He indicated that Lesufi decided to intensify efforts to combat crime through collaboration among all law-enforcement stakeholders, municipalities, and the provincial government.

As part of this resolution, an integrated approach to government was adopted. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed with relevant stakeholders involved in the fight against crime.

Resources have subsequently been deployed to Merafong Local Municipality to enhance service delivery and address crime-related challenges.

Community members raised several concerns during the imbizo that was held at Khutsong Stadium.
Residents who attended were especially concerned over crime, school safety, illegal mining, policing, socio-economic challenges and service delivery issues.

Amongst other issues, the SAPS’ Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Fred Kekana, encouraged community members to provide the police with the names and locations of taverns suspected of selling liquor to teachers or which are operating unlawfully.

Communities were encouraged to actively participate in Community Police Forums (CPFs), sector crime forums and other community safety structures to strengthen community involvement in crime prevention. The community was also cautioned against renting out properties or backyard accommodation to people involved in illegal mining activities.

Residents were encouraged to report suspected zama-zama activities and other criminal activities to SAPS.

Plans were made to strengthen collaboration between SAPS, CPFs, sector crime forums, municipalities, liquor authorities, education stakeholders and other law-enforcement agencies to address the safety challenges raised by residents.

There would also be more targeted operations against illegal and non-compliant taverns, particularly those operating near schools or outside permitted trading hours.

Interventions would be strengthened in identified illegal mining hotspots, including Blyvoor, through co-ordinated law-enforcement and stakeholder operations, while community members were advised against harbouring or protecting illegal miners.

Kekana also undertook to improve the recording, investigation and follow-up of housebreaking, robbery and murder cases, and encouraged communities to provide SAPS with case details to facilitate monitoring.

He also encouraged residents to participate actively in CPFs and sector crime structures as part of the shared responsibility for community safety.

Meanwhile, the Merafong City Local Municipality gave feedback on problems at the Carletonville landfill site at Rooipoort, saying that the municipality, provincial and national government will work together to sort out the issues.

As sinkholes also continue to be a major issue in our area, the municipality indicated that it is working closely with a provincial team over the matter. The Provincial Disaster Management Centre is co-ordinating the intergovernmental efforts to address the issue of sinkholes in Merafong.