Editor –
In light of the various shootings in and around Estcourt in the past few months, I have begun to wonder as a concerned resident about the safety of the general public. A major concern is that a significant number of these shootings are suspected to be politically motivated.
These have led to the loss of life, and various other injuries. This has resulted in important actors who have been tasked with the upliftment of our town and members of the public living their lives in fear. Am I next? My biggest worry though is that instead of showing a decline, it seems as if these shootings are on the rise.
Since mid-August, four politicians have been shot at, and sadly, one lost his life. Hence, the aim of this letter is to promote peace in our town, as I do not wish to see any more residents losing their lives due to the actions of a few people who have no regard for the law and the worth of life.
Additionally, it aims to find ways which can be utilised to reduce crime in our town.
In terms of Section 11 of the Constitution (the supreme law of the Republic of South Africa), everyone has the right to life.
READ: Fourth politician shot at since August
However, at the moment, it seems as if those who disregard this are getting away with it because these acts of criminality have not resulted in either arrests or successful prosecutions.
While investigations into the individual cases are ongoing, I strongly believe that society as a whole has a significant role to play in curbing these criminal deeds in our town.
What I am referring to here is the role that can be played by the general public, Inkosi Langalibalele Municipality (ILM) and the Estcourt South African Police Service (SAPS).
Collectively, these actors have the potential to raise awareness and successfully mitigate against these acts of criminality.
For example, bystanders who may have witnessed some of these shootings and various other crimes are often afraid of coming forward as witnesses, for fear of being identified as targets themselves.
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This results in stagnant cases with no leads, and this is where the municipality can step in by investing in CCTV installations around our town. Such footage can go a long way in assisting the police in identifying and prosecuting the perpetrators of these unwanted acts.
Research conducted into crime has shown that poverty and poor service delivery directly impact on crime levels, while disparity between the rich and poor is also to blame. Therefore, to promote peace in Estcourt and minimise these acts of criminality, the municipality and the police have a major role to play. In addition to CCTV installations, the municipality can also increase the number of ways it empowers its population and speed up service delivery.
Furthermore, the municipality’s Planning Department can start looking into features of urban design that will promote crime prevention in our town, because poorly designed and managed built environments can create opportunities for crime and make people feel unsafe.
The police can also increase the number of units dedicated to visible policing in and around town, especially in areas that have been identified as crime hot-spots.
Overall, I urge the general public to be vigilant at all times and to remember that an ‘eye for an eye’ will leave the whole world blind.
Mfanelo Chonco
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