‘How can you make a deal with a monster?’
Const Elizabeth Mabena, Sector 3 manager, met with residents of Extention 18 in eMbalenhle to disuss crime presentative measures in the area.
eMBALENHLE – Residents who attended the Sector 3 meeting with police asked the intervention of officers from Tactical Response Team (TRT), known as amabharede, to help reduce crime in Ext 18.
This was after several cases of house robberies, rape and murder were reported to police in this area recently.
Residents also raised their concerns about the police responding late to crime scene and about taverns that operate 24 hours and allowing children under the age of 18 years to buy alcohol.
In response, Const Elizabeth Mabena, Sector 3 manager, described the actions of the criminals as barbaric and a shame to the nation.
She asked residents to unite and restore the spirit of ubuntu.
“If we unite and work together with the Community Police Forum and the police, we can beat crime.
“Crime is robbing us of our lives, the future of our children is destroyed by rape and we are deprived of our right to live freely in our homes.
“Neighbours, try to fix quarrels among yourself, because if you are not on good terms with your neighbours, it will be difficult for you to ask for help when you are in trouble.
“If you see suspicious people or strangers in your neighbour’s house, inform your neighbour.”
Const Mabena also appealed to parents to strengthen and enforce discipline in their children.
She said when police are doing daily patrols in the area, they find many children under 18 years on the street.
“Parents should worry when your children are not at home at night.
“When you fail to control them, they will be exposed to danger or they will be involved in crime in the area.
“Every time we do these patrols, we recover various dangerous weapons and some of these are recovered from young children.”
She discouraged what she called the culture of settling rape matters out of court.
“Some parents do not report the rape of their children to the police and choose to make money out of it.
“How do you sit down to make a deal with a monster who raped your own child?”
When residents are renting out rooms, they should get as much information as possible about their tenants and that if those who seek to rent does not produce an identity document or a passport, they should not be granted a place to stay.
To report any crime in the area, contact eMbalenhle Police Station at 017 685 1341.
