THE community of Nazareth just outside Pinetown expressed concerns about crime, unemployment and the lack of youth activities during an Imbizo that was held at the community hall on Saturday.

The meeting was led by Pinetown SAPS station commander, Brigadier Leon Matthysen, to address concerns and improve police services.

Nazareth is one of the areas that has high crime rates and Matthysen presented a six-month crime statistics report.

He highlighted cases of murder, robbery, assault, and gender-based violence, attributing the rise in assault cases to alcohol-fuelled arguments.

Brigadier Matthysen also took the time to explain the differences between house burglary and house robbery, ensuring the community understands the nuances of each crime.

Also read: Pinetown SAPS shares back to school safety tips

The Justice Department, Metro Police, and the area councillor were also present. They emphasised the importance of community policing and encouraged residents to take an active role.

The Justice Department explained in detail the role of the police and the courts in addressing crime, specifically highlighting the process of Gender-Based Violence (GBV). The community posed several questions to the Justice Department, seeking clarity on various aspects of the GBV process.

Residents said lack of opportunities and unemployment play a huge role in the youth turning to criminal activities.

“We always encourage the communities to come together and form structures such as community policing forums to assist police fight crime as we cannot win the fight against crime but we need the support from the community,” said Matthysen.

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