Police minister Bheki Cele has promised to bring down “Mamelodi’s No. 1 Tsotsi”, an unnamed crime kingpin whose gang is said to be operating in the township.
“It used to be a peaceful place, but now residents are complaining about one person and his gang who are terrorising the community,” said Cele.
“When I come back, I am bringing in my boys. If we must die fighting crime in Mamelodi, we must die. No one is above the law.”
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Cele made the remarks during a community meeting held at the International Assemblies of God in Mamelodi East.
He said police would not rest until the township has become a “crime-free zone”.
Community members had a chance to talk to the minister at the meeting about the crime situation in the area and how police are handling it.
“It is time for action and we won’t rest until the situation here is normal,” said Cele.
“If I must bring in all our highly-trained units to fight crime, then so be it.”
Residents at the meeting complained about the alleged kingpin and how his armed gang is terrorising the whole community and making local businessmen pay “protection fees”.
Residents at the meeting also complained about corrupt police officers.
Cele advised them to come forward with information “for them to be dealt with”.
Newly appointed Gauteng provincial commissioner Elias Mawela was also at the meeting.
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Mawela said Mamelodi has been flagged as a crime “hot spot” priority for police.
He told the meeting the public should work with police and come forward with any information that can help with solving crime in the area.
Alfred Sealetso, of South African national civic organisation, said he was concerned about police officers not informing complainants about the progress of cases opened at police stations.
He further talked about fake eviction orders and people are thrown out of their family houses.
Resident Mpho Sepoba spoke about poor security at local schools and how burglaries are reported at them every week.
He said community schools desperately need police visibility since school patrollers leave their posts at night.
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Other residents talked about crime at Mamelodi hostels. They said the hostel blocks were hideouts for criminals.
Nellmapius resident Thabo Malekane said his area did not even have a police station and they had to walk long distances to report cases.
He asked the police minister to create mobile police stations in the area.
Residents further complained about the rife crime in the area.
They demanded police hold daily stop-and-search operation daily.
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