“I hate police, especially Rabie Ridge police officers.” These were the empathetic statements from Mayibuye community member Juliet Mokoena during the South African Police Service (SAPS) provincial imbizo.

Residents from across Mayibuye and surrounding areas packed Mayibuye Park on May 14 for the imbizo, where frustrations over crime, policing failures, delayed investigations, and poor service delivery dominated discussions.

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Community members from areas including Ivory Park, Ebony Park, Kaalfontein, Rabie Ridge, Klipfontein View, Commercia, and Midrand attended the public engagement, which was convened to strengthen collaboration between Gauteng police and communities, provide service delivery updates, and address pressing safety concerns across the province.

However, the gathering quickly turned emotional as residents openly confronted police officials about years of poor service at the Rabie Ridge Police Station.

Many residents accused officers of failing to investigate cases properly, delaying responses to complaints, taking poor witness statements, and neglecting victims seeking justice. Mokoena, who is a Mayibuye Ext 5 resident, emotionally recounted the death of her child, allegedly during a police chase in 2013.

“I am not happy with our police from Rabie Ridge. I had a child who was killed by the Rabie Ridge police in 2013. It is alleged that the police were chasing three criminals.

They came across my child, who was with a friend, and thought they were the criminals they were chasing, so they shot my child, and he died.

Also read: Police send strong message to Midrand criminals

“After his death, [the police] did not even bother to come to my place to say sorry. So, I am not very happy. I hate police officers, especially the Rabie Ridge ones.”

Another resident, Puseletso Huma, raised concerns over the handling of a case involving her five-year-old daughter. “Something happened in January after taking my child to Kanana [Primary School]. A Grade 7 learner took my child to the school toilets and shoved a pencil into my daughter’s back.

“I went to Rabie Ridge Police Station to open a case, and, even now, a sergeant by the surname of Khoza has not come back to me. Crime prevention members were there at the school, and they even took me to the police station to open a case, but nothing has happened.”

She said she continues to fear for her daughter’s safety and wants answers about the progress of the investigation.

Residents also questioned why some cases remain unresolved for years without feedback from investigating officers. Resident Michael Konishi shared his frustration regarding a case opened after his sister was struck by a vehicle in 2017.

“I would like to ask the officers how the law works. In 2017, my sister was hit by a car at the robots on Allandale Road. A case was opened at Rabie Ridge, and an officer told me the case would only progress after five years. He took out a pile of case files and showed me older cases, saying ours would have to wait. Even today, I am still waiting for feedback.”

Drug abuse and drug dealing also emerged as major concerns during the imbizo, with residents highlighting the widespread use and sale of crystal meth and marijuana in local communities. Some residents questioned whether the legalisation of cannabis means it can be openly smoked in public spaces.

Representative of the South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (Sanca) Nomalanga Khoza proposed the establishment of a mobile police station at the old Kanana East Post Office building.

Leading the imbizo on behalf of the Ekurhuleni District Commissioner, Major General Anna Sithole, Vosloorus Police Station commander Brigadier Ntombizini Linah Thethe acknowledged the community’s frustrations and encouraged residents to actively follow up on their cases.

“We are here indeed to hear your complaints and find a way forward on how we deal with these challenges we face daily. When you open a case, it gets registered and allocated to an investigating officer. That officer must communicate with the complainant through phone calls or visits to provide updates on the case.”

She also urged residents not to leave police stations without receiving assistance and stressed the importance of co-operation between communities and law enforcement agencies in fighting crime.

The Mayibuye Community Policing Forum chairperson, Kagiso Mokoele, was also available, stating that this imbizo was very important to them as a community, since they do not usually meet with the police, especially the brigadiers.

“The community complains a lot about drugs and illegal immigrants in their sections, but we will work together with SAPS to see what we can do.”

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