Community demands govt take action against crime in the Pta CBD
“We are not free in our country, which is supposedly free and democratic. It is enough, we require decisive action to deal with crime in our country.”
Concerned community members took to the streets of the capital city demanding that government take action against gender-based violence (GBV).
The march, led by members of the ANC, began at Jubilee Park in Sunnyside and ended at the area’s police station where they handed over a letter of demands to police deputy minister Charlie Mathale.
“We as a community feel betrayed by the police for failing to tackle these horrendous crimes effectively,” gender-based activist Malebo Malebo said, reading a statement on behalf of the InnerCity Central Zone, Greater Tshwane Region.
She said they felt unsafe because of the high levels of crime against women and children in the country.
“GBV is thriving, drugs are sold on every corner of our streets, yet our officers are turning a blind eye or are accomplices since they are allegedly on drug lords’ payrolls.”
She said they were concerned about the killings in and around the inner city.
“The death of one person is too many.”
She said cars were stolen, houses were broken into and there were unimaginable numbers of hijackings of both vehicles and buildings in the city.
“We are not free in our country, which is supposedly free and democratic. It is enough. We require decisive action to deal with crime in our country.”
The demands include the government must:
– increase police capacity for law enforcement agencies to effectively fight against crime in the city;
– protect whistleblowers;
– provide necessary resources to the CPF;
– make it difficult for criminals to get bail; and
– authorise the forensic department for it to be able to speedily execute its mandate for speedy trials.
They gave the government 14 days to respond to their demands.
Receiving the memorandum, Mathale commended the ANC members for taking part in the march, adding that he was aware that some members of the community found it strange for the members of the ruling party to march against their government.
“The ANC, like any other organisation, has the right to express itself in any form; be it through a protest and handing over memorandums to a government that is led by the ANC. There is no contradiction in that,” Mathale said.
He said the police were clear that they would not succeed in the fight against crime without communities’ involvement.
“This is because crime and criminality take place where our communities are staying,” he said, citing that some criminals stay with communities and some community members know them.
“The first people to see crimes committed, even before the police are aware of it, are community members. We, therefore, need to work with you because you are critical to our fight against crime.”
He encouraged community members to fight against crime by joining CPF structures.
He said the police were ready to fight against crime and had responded appropriately in other areas where lawlessness was emerging.
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