A meeting has been held to discuss a litany of concerns over the formerly notorious Tambotie flats (Spruitsigpark) in Sunnyside, including the recent apparent murder-suicide of two teens.
Instigated by civic organisation #NotInMyName and Sunnyside residents, the meeting was attended by police and the Tambotie body corporate on Tuesday at the Sunnyside police station.
As #NotInMyNameSA we are pleading with the @CityTshwane to do something about the Tambotie Flats in Sunnyside. We keep finding most of the girls that are kidnapped in the PTA erea there. #Mayivalwe #Kubo #TambotieMustFall @tumisole @Siya_Jentile @BroThemba pic.twitter.com/0QU6MU7Uza
— #NOTINMYNAME INTERNATIONAL (@NotInMyNameINT) May 16, 2019
According to residents, Tambotie was still facing issues of more young girls disappearing, prostitution, drug-related crimes and thefts and robberies, as well as murder.
There is a building in sunnyside called tambotie flat,our sisters are abducted to that building for prostitution, very big drug operation, stolen cars are there,people are thrown out the building police know but nothing is happening
— ricardo (@Ricklove999) June 10, 2019
https://twitter.com/roast_and/status/1138683410891911169
But they are hiding in Sunnyside Pretoria, thugs hiding in Tambotie Flats, untouchable. People are kidnapped there, drugs syndicates and people killed there.
When will the carnage in those flats end, you’ve allowed Nigerians to do as they wish there. https://t.co/MQJUW7pvZe— onesies (@juicyflows) June 8, 2019
@SAPoliceService Please do something about Tambotie Flats in Sunnyside. We were informed Little girls are kidnapped, drugged and forced into prostitution there. Some residents say police are taking bribes from these guys. @Siya_Jentile @tumisole @BroThemba #TambotieMustFall pic.twitter.com/kGCGdCjusm
— #NOTINMYNAME INTERNATIONAL (@NotInMyNameINT) May 23, 2018
About three weeks ago, two teenagers were found to have fallen to their deaths from a 17-storey building at the block of flats in a suspected murder-suicide.
Sunnyside police spokesperson Daniel Mavimbela confirmed the incident.
“An inquest and murder case is being investigated.”
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He said that the case of the two teens who had allegedly jumped off the building was an “isolated incident” and that Tamboti had not had major incidents this year.
“Tambotie incidents are rarely reported these days and crime statistics have decreased,” said Mavimbela.
“We do not have incidents of motorists being lured by prostitutes only to end up being robbed and other modus operandi for criminal activity.”
#NotInMyName secretary Themba Masango said the organisation and the Sunnyside community had concerns about ongoing crimes taking place at the flats.
Masango also said that in April, the organisation rescued a girl “at that dreadful hellhole called Tambotie flats”.
“The girl was last seen by her classmates leaving school on their way to catch a taxi home.
“She was found at the same place where we found another little girl from Gezina last year.”
Tambotie body corporate chairperson Sarela Bongani said the flats’ management was not aware of the incident involving the schoolgirls, but they knew about the alleged murder-suicide case.
Mavimbela said he was also not aware of the matter of the two schoolgirls.
Bongani said he agreed with residents that Tambotie used to face very serious issues however, “since last year June, there has not been any issues, such as there was in the past, related to the flats”.
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He said this was after the body corporate took over and went on a drug clean-up to rid the flats of drug dealers, drugs and prostitution with the help of police.
“More than 30 drug dealers we knew have been removed from the building and can no longer return.”
Bongani said it was difficult with prostitution as one could not necessarily call out someone on how they were dressed as a prostitute.
He said since the clean-up operation, crime had declined at the flats.
“We have been having meetings with police to assist us as well.”
He said when a person went missing and was found at the flats, the public assumed that they were kidnapped.
“However, most of these young girls are there willingly.”
Bongani said this was something they were working on as management.
He said plans were also in place at looking at how police could assist with regular inspections to rid the flats of any other criminal activity.
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