Frustrated residents have given the South African Police Service (SAPS) seven days to respond to their demands for improved policing following a protest in the area on April 7.

Community members took to the streets early on Tuesday morning, burning tyres and barricading key roads, bringing traffic to a standstill.

The protest was driven by ongoing concerns over crime and what residents describe as inadequate police response.

Protesters marched to the local police station, where a memorandum of demands was handed over to acting station commander Colonel Jones Baloyi and Colonel Dolph De Bruin.

Watch residents protests: https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSHmuDpoV/

The memorandum outlines concerns, including slow response times, a lack of visible policing, and dissatisfaction with how certain crimes – particularly those linked to illegal mining – are being handled.

Police accepted the memorandum and committed to reviewing the issues raised.

Community leader Matshidiso Miyambo said residents are living in fear due to increasingly aggressive criminal activity.

Related article: Mohlakeng erupts in protest over crime and poor police response

“Residents are scared to live in their own homes. We have syndicates who forcefully enter homes with laptops and demand access to phones and banking apps to transfer money,” she said.

She added that police often respond hours after incidents have occurred.

Another resident, Khomotso Khoadi, alleged that some officers are failing the community.

“The same SAPS tasked with protecting residents is failing us. They take bribes from criminals, and some officers have close ties to syndicates,” she said.

Residents from neighbouring areas also joined the protest.

Finsbury resident Bokkie Pule called for more policing infrastructure, including additional satellite stations.

“It cannot be that only a few areas have access to satellite police stations. Randfontein is a large community and cannot be serviced by only two police stations. We need more visibility,” she said.

Residents warned that further protest action could follow if their concerns are not addressed.

Community leaders emphasised that the protest was intended to push for accountability and improved safety, not to incite violence.

Law enforcement maintained a presence throughout the march, and while tensions were high, the protest concluded without major incidents.

The community now awaits a formal response from SAPS, which could determine the next course of action.