Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC, Mr Pat Ngomane, addressed residents of Govan Mbeki Municipality at the Safety and Security Imbizo in Leandra held recently.
He called on parents to stop taking their children who committed crime to traditional healers for protection.
He said the fight against crime can never be won if people are still protecting criminals instead of surrendering them to the police.
Mr Ngomane said parents and people protecting criminals by using muti, are defeating the ends of justice and as a result are perpetrating crime.
“What kind of parents hide criminals in their homes, while innocent community members become victims of their children’s doings? We do not want to kill them, but to keep them in a place where their morals will be regenerated and we ask you to please surrender them to us.”
The MEC added that community members must not be spectators in the fight against crime, but should be part of the implementation of strategies for crime prevention.
“The development and success of a community does not lie in the hands of government or community leaders only, but must begin with you.
“You are the ones who can bring change in the communities you live in.”
Mr Ngomane pleaded with traditional leaders, healers and pastors to assist government to preach the gospel of safety and a crime-free environment.
Community members were also given a chance to ask questions to the MEC and members of the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster with regards to criminal issues.
They complained about the selling of Nyaope to young people and also alleged that some police officers are involved.
Residents blamed the police for delaying to respond to crime scenes and alleged that some officers misuse state vehicles.
They urged the MEC to ask the Department of Justice to meet with them to explain the processes of the granting of bail, as they alleged that people who were arrested for serious crimes received bail.
The MEC slammed a DA councillor for asking questions which he believed should be raised at a council meeting.
A Community Police Forum member from Leandra, Mr Tony Mlotsoagae, said the police must be provided with sufficient resources to service communities to prevent attacks and complaints from community members.
He said inaccessible roads make it difficult for the police to get to crime scenes.
The Mpumalanga SAPS Provincial Commissioner, Lt Gen Mondli Zuma, called on the community to report corrupt activity by police officers.
He said officers who are found to be corrupt, will be removed from the police force.
Lt Gen Zuma pleaded with residents to register to become police reservists to assist in crime prevention.
He further urged parents to protect their children to stop the trafficking of children who are later abused or killed for muthi.
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