Mams residents claim illegal foreigners responsible for crime
They claimed the people who are robbing them are undocumented foreigners and target those with information they received from the community members.
Mamelodi residents have blamed undocumented foreigners for the rise in crime in the area.
They raised this among other concerns at an anti crime meeting attended by the police, the local CPF, local councillors and the community at the Lutheran Church in Mamelodi West, Section D2 extension on Monday afternoon.
On Sunday afternoon angry residents in Section D2 had meted out their own justice on four people they had arrested for suspected criminal activity.
Two died and one badly injured following the assault.
The mob believed to have been rented by foreigners also torched houses in the area.
NO POLICE VISIBILITY
Eddie Mnguni of Mamelodi East CPF said the aim of the meeting was to come up with ways to prevent crime within the community and avoid mob justice.
He said the residents blamed the police for not dealing with crime in the area adequately.
“Residents complain that there is no police visibility. They say they report crime but police would not respond on time,” said Mnguni.
The residents are concerned the elderly people who live alone and single parents are being targeted and robbed of their furniture, electric appliances and food.
Residents claimed criminals used to target people coming from work but from last month they started targeting houses.
They claimed the people robbing them are undocumented foreigners.
MOB JUSTICE
Mnguni added that the recent victim was a senior citizen aged 104, who was robbed in his house.
“We called the meeting because we condemn mob justice and no one is above the law or has the right to beat or kill someone just because they have committed a crime,” he said.
The community members signed a petition of grievances, pleading with Tshwane metro to cut over grown grass and fix streets lights as well asking police to patrol the area every two hours.
It was agreed that the community needs to revive street committees to fight crime.
Tebogo Mashigo of Mamelodi West CPF said the residents agreed to reintroduce patrollers and take care of their streets.
He said the reviving of street committees has already started and residents of Section D2 are forming street committees.
Mashigo also encouraged other areas in Mamelodi to start their own street committees and patrol groups.
“The street committees will help fight crime by becoming the eyes and ears of the police,” said Mashigo.
He advised the public to avoid foot paths that are isolated with overgrown grass because criminals hide in those areas.
Mnguni advised Mamelodians to start working together to fight crime.
He pleaded with residents to stop renting rooms to undocumented foreign nationals.
A follow-up meeting with the community will be held in due course to see what progress has been made on street committees and community patrollers.
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