Community unites against violent smallholding attacks
This comes after the 15km radius area was hit by seven attacks on smallholdings within a mere 24 hour period earlier this week on Tuesday to Wednesday.
The Pretoria North sector 3 CPF decided to implement several suggestions, including increased patrols, within “a few hours” of an emergency meeting held to discuss a spate of violent crimes in the Haakdoornboom area.
“A few practical suggestions were made [during the meeting] and implemented shortly thereafter,” Marcos Grassini of the Pretoria North sector 3 CPF told Rekord.
This comes after the 15km radius area was hit by seven attacks on smallholdings within a mere 24 hour period earlier this week on Tuesday to Wednesday.
He said crime in the area has been on the rise over the past few years.
“Over the last two years, we had a massive increase in violent crimes such as assault, rape, murder, hijacking, spiking of vehicle tyres, disturbance of the peace, child prostitution, neglect and abuse.”
The area was also plagued by home invasions resulting in violent assaults and rapes.
Grassini also lauded the CPF’s patrol coordinator Isaac Mashinini for the “beautiful job” he did in the number of people he got for their first night on patrol duty.
READ MORE: 7 attacks in 24 hours on north smallholdings
“What’s amazing is that we can put aside our differences and come together to fight a common enemy at the end of the day,” he said.
Police spokesperson Captain Matthews Nkoadi confirmed four dockets for house robbery were opened for investigation this week.
The suspects, however, remained unknown.
“The only description we have is for two suspects – one tall and the other short,” he said.
Nkoadi added the dockets were for attempted murder and robbery.
Earlier this week, two workers were attacked and injured when they were robbed of their cellphones and cash.
One of the workers was said to have been hit over the head with an unknown object while the other was allegedly grazed by what was believed to be a bullet on the head when shots were fired.
READ MORE: North elderly man killed in smallholding attack
The CPF’s spokesperson Cobie Jansen van Rensburg said the spike in the attacks, robberies and break-ins was a huge concern.
She added that two residents were attacked and injured during a house robbery.
This while another allegedly targeted property in the area had its windows broken and fence cut.
Shots were fired in another attempted house break-in on Tuesday evening.
Meanwhile, the DA’s shadow community safety MEC John Moodey said the recent attacks showed that farmers were targeted by criminals.
He claimed nothing was being done to ensure their safety.
“We have tabled a motion in the Gauteng provincial legislature on violent crimes in the province, particularly crime against rural communities,” he said.
“We also launched a petition on crimes in rural communities.”
Moodey called on community safety MEC Faith Mazibuko to prioritise the farm attack investigations and help the police in rural areas with additional resources.
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