Ivory Park residents raise GBVF, police corruption and resource concerns

Concerns about gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), alleged police corruption and limited policing resources dominated a community engagement in Ivory Park, Thembisa, on August 4.

Deputy Minister of Police, Dr Polly Boshielo, and Gauteng Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni, led a GBVF crime-prevention imbizo at Lord Khanyile Community Hall.

The well-attended engagement allowed residents to raise concerns directly with government representatives, SAPS and other stakeholders about crime and strategies to address GBVF.

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Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi was also among the officials present.

Concerns raised by residents included allegations of corruption within SAPS, including claims that some officials accept bribes from undocumented foreign nationals and alleged drug dealers.

SANCO Ward 92 chairperson and community leader Dimakasto Ude said residents were frustrated by what she described as inadequate policing resources in the area.

She called for additional policing facilities, including satellite police stations, and urged SAPS to improve its engagement with the community.

“We need the government to extend our police station; it’s so critical. That’s why our police are failing us because there’s only one police station in Ivory Park catering for 11 wards,” Ude said.

She said residents continued to experience concerns about drug-related crime and alleged that some suspects were returning to the community after being reported to police.

“Crime and drug usage are so high. We live in constant fear because when we report the drug dealers, they are brought back into the community by the same police officers,” she alleged.

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Ude also raised concerns about the lack of feedback on reported cases.

“It hurts so much. We report and constantly ask for help, but there’s never feedback from our police in Ivory Park,” she said.

She referred to a rape case involving a child, which she alleged had not received adequate feedback from police.

“There’s a child who was raped by a drug dealer, and there still hasn’t been any feedback on that case,” Ude said.

Boshielo acknowledged the concerns raised by residents, saying engagements of this nature form part of efforts to rebuild trust between communities and the SAPS.

“Our people are hopeless, and they don’t trust the police, but the police are doing a lot of work. We go around the communities trying to get their trust even if they are angry at us,” Boshielo said.

She encouraged residents to report suspected criminal conduct by police officials and other public servants.

“We urge the community not to be afraid to report officials who commit crimes, including by taking videos where appropriate or reporting anonymously,” she said.

Mthombeni called on residents to work with SAPS to address the challenges raised during the engagement.

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He also reminded the station commander about the mobile community service centres, as received by the province, following calls from residents for additional policing facilities.

The mobile units are intended to bring policing services closer to communities in areas where additional facilities are needed.

Mthombeni encouraged residents to report suspected corruption and provided the SAPS National Service Integrity hotline numbers 081 007 01701 and 086 001 0111.

The engagement highlighted the need for continued cooperation between residents, SAPS and government structures in addressing GBVF, crime and community concerns about policing.