Community will no longer play victim to gangsters
Addressing the marchers, Mashaba said it had become the norm, especially in December, for residents to be attacked by these dangerous gangsters.
The community of Emjindini has vowed to take the law into their own hands against a group of young gangsters who are roaming the streets freely wielding butcher knives and robbing and hacking their victims.
That was the stern message sent out by furious local residents on December 19 as they held a peaceful march against the butcher knives thugs.
The march, which was organised by the office of the Umjindi Municipality executive mayor Cllr Lazarus Mashaba, started at Eskalini up to the four-way stop in Emjindini.
Over 200 community members, including business people and church leaders, joined the protest.
Addressing the marchers, Mashaba said it had become the norm, especially in December, for residents to be attacked by these dangerous gangsters.
“In past incidents, many of our community members have fallen victim to knife attacks, especially during the festive season. It is therefore the initiative of the municipality to raise awareness about these callous, savage attacks. We need to identify and isolate these criminals to allow law-enforcement agencies to arrest them,” said Mashaba.
These gang members even fought among themselves when they started operating in 2014.
But recently they have taken to robbing residents of their belongings. Some of the thugs, who include girls, are as young as 13.
During the march a petition was submitted to the Barberton Police Station commander, Col Sunbright Ndlovu.
Ndlovu urged the community of Umjindi to assist the police to win the streets back from the gangs and thugs.
“Together we can stand up to the tidal wave of violence which threatens to engulf our streets by reporting those who commit these crimes. Once such crimes have being reported, police will ensure that the perpetrators are being put where they belongs, which is behind bars,” said Ndlovu.
