Thembisa task team to eradicate crime

The Gauteng Community Safety group hosted the Thembisa/Kempton Park and Surrounding Areas Safety Summit at Rabasotho Hall on February 22.

The summit saw the local chiefs and religious organisations joined by relevant stakeholders taking part. The community was given a chance to voice their problems and find solutions. A task team was formed by relevant representatives, including disabled representatives.

Ekurhuleni Central Cluster SAPS deputy commander Brig Thabo Mphuthi said the Ekurhuleni Northern zone has eight police stations with crime hot spots, like Winnie Mandela, Vusimuzi Sqautter Camp and Swazi Inn.

Mphuthi read her report on crimes in dangerous areas, detailing which ones trouble police stations in Thembisa and Ivory Park most. She also warned the community to be safe around these areas.

“Slotjhile Pub & Shisanyama is among the crime hot spots. In Winnie Mandela people disappear and are sometimes found dead, with domestic violence being the most reported crime in the area.

“People run to the police station to lay charges of domestic abuse, but once they feel safe in the presence of SAPS they want to contact their family members to accompany them home so they could go and talk things out. Such behaviour won’t be condoned.

“Trio crimes include hijacking at drive-throughs, traffic lights and traffic conjunctions, as well as business robberies. These days even churches are robbed,” said Mphuthi.

Swazi Inn, as another crime hot spot, was not left out.

“Murder, attempted murder and common crimes are a big issue in this area. We call on community members, especially women, to walk in a group of three or more to avoid becoming victims.”

Mphuti lashed the community of Vusimuzi Squatter Camp for their behaviour against SAPS and emergency officers.

“As Vusimuzi lacks infrastructure, police struggle to navigate through the shacks with their cars. Instead they have to park them somewhere and walk in between the shacks to do their official duties. But community members throw stones at the police and ambulances.

“Kempton Park CBD and Glen Marias has an influx of foreign nationals, as in Winnie Mandela and Ivory Park. In all the areas drugs and alcohol are a huge problem. Our young ones now consume more alcohol than their elders.

“Pamona is another industrial area where stealing diesel and petrol is common, but in the end they kill each other while fighting for the possessions, just like in Ivory Park and Ebony Park. These two areas also lack streets lights.

“With Rabie Ridge, these areas have a high rate of car hijackings,” she said.

Gauteng community safety MEC Faith Mazibuko said the community of Thembisa must have an action plan created by the people of Thembisa to find solutions to resolving crime around them.

The MEC warned the community not to harbour criminals because they are the breadwinners at home or because they are family.

“The issues of safety at schools is of serious concern.

“We cannot condone the carrying of weapons at schools. Let’s avoid to nurse our children. We need to take action and discipline them because the police are not your solution to disciplining your children.

“Another thing is that as a community we need to build our street committees.

“Through streets committees, we will be able to know what is happening in our surrounding areas as we will have knowledge of who resides in that household, monitor their activities, and should any suspicious activity arise we will pick it up in time.”

Mazibuko added that gender-based violence continues to be a major problem and urged people to not withdraw cases after filing a charge.

“Femicide is another big issue. We call on all community stakeholders, including the local chiefs, to take charge to help decrease the stats of women being killed.

“Taverns have to be closed by 2am, not a minute later. At 10pm the volume has to be turned down for the neighbours to be able to sleep. It is illegal for one to operate a tavern with a family member’s liquor licence. Like a driver’s licence, it is not inheritable,” Mazibuko said.

Assistant director of community police relations Octavia Ngwenya said the community has spoken and they have proposed solutions which the department will look into and find possible solutions to be implemented where possible.

“The task team, compromising relevant stakeholders of the community, is formed. On March 16, we will table the proposed solutions by the community.

“The community knows its problems. We are asking them to work hand in hand with the government to resolve some of the issues. The action would be to implement solutions, like enforcing the City’s by-laws,” Ngwenya said.