Sparks fly at Nelsville community meeting

NELSPRUIT – “Our community keeps quiet, because if you speak, you are either threatened, hurt or even killed.”

This was the statement of a concerned citizen at the Nelsville community residents’ meeting at the community centre on Tuesday night.

Mr Werner le Grange, the new council member for Ward 17, under which Nelsville falls, was given the difficult task of keeping tempers in check and finger-pointing to a minimum during the meeting which was relatively well attended. “The goal of this meeting is to establish a relationship with our community. I am new and therefore I am not well known to the people,” Le Grange said.

Attending the meeting, amongst others, were chairman of the Provincial Community Policing Forums Board Mr Kevin Pillay, acting station commander of SAPS Nelspruit Col Gerrie Agenbag and Sector Commander Capt Thandi Shibango.

Pillay addressed the audience by explaining the need to establish subsectors in each sector of Nelspruit and Nelsville, “It is a national priority to engage our communities in the war against crime.”

Agenbag added that crime as a whole in the city had declined, but that the focus was now on drug-related crime in Nelsville. “It is high time – let us stand up and take our country back into our own hands and out of the hands of the criminals,” he said, to which the audience erupted in applause.

Pillay explained that a voice of the community is needed in policing, safety and security, “It has been proved that sector policing and partnership policing are the most effective.” He added that community representatives should eventually be elected for these purposes. “Our current problem is that there is no report back to the public. In the past, there have been one or two subsector meetings, but because of the lack of feedback, the community stopped attending. This will now change,” he said.

“We are here to listen to you. Tell us your policing problems.”

And what a telling they got! The people of Nelsville did not hold back on voicing their concerns. Some of the issues that were aired – and yet again met with spontaneous applause – included the high unemployment rate, drug abuse, children approached by drug dealers, spinning of vehicles and noise pollution.

“Our children are exposed to drugs at such a young age. These dealers prowl our streets to approach our children and get them addicted. It is those children who then burgle our houses, just so that they can get money for their next fix. They aren’t necessarily bad children, but this is what happens to them,” one woman said.

“How can we get rid of these thugs who bring drugs and crime into our community? Nelsville has only two entrances. Why can’t the police smoke them out? Why haven’t they thought of having road blocks and searching everyone?” another asked.

One woman, clearly distraught, stood up and pointed out that the people who were abusing substances and burgling houses, were in fact members of the community, “We are housing these people in our homes. We have to stand up and take responsibility. Parents take responsibility for your children!” Again, the applause.

To which another woman stood and said, “We have lost confidence in the police though. Our community chooses to keep quiet on these issues, or who the thugs are, because we all know that if you speak, we will either be threatened, hurt or even killed. I don’t want to have my daughter raped, just because I exposed someone.”

Another reiterated this statement, adding that even when going to the SAPS station to have documents stamped, officers are usually slow to help and are rude. “In my opinion, if you are in a uniform, you are on duty. You can not merely stand to the side of the office and pretend not to notice the rows of people waiting for help.

“To top it all, it is no secret that people in the police are friendly with some of these dealers – we even know some of their names! But because of the fear, we can never report it,” said another.

After much discussion, Agenbag told the hall that he felt like the so-called black sheep of the family, “I hear what you are saying and I assure you, these issues will be addressed. Drugs are the man issue that was raised, as many of the other problems are the result of drug abuse. We plead with you, that you still keep working on your youth, push these thugs from out of your community. And I agree, policing should be much more visible.”

“We ask you – parents – stand together and bring your children back to what’s right and assist one another. Don’t merely point fingers and attack. At our next meeting we will definitely give you thorough feedback on the issues raised.”

Agenbag requested the public to contact him or the Nelspruit Police Station directly if the 10111 number goes unanswered, as well as their sector commander, Capt Thandgi Shibango and the station commander Brig Bheki Thabete.

BOX LAYOUT PLEASE:

• Nelspruit SAPS Sation on 013-751-6000 or 076-731-6431

• Sector commander Capt Thandi Shibango on 082-303-9691

• Nelspruit station commander Brig Bheki Thabete on 082-565-7506

• Acting Nelspruit Station Commander Col Gerrie Agenbag on 082-556-5308.