The deputy minister of Police, Cassel Mathela, recently hosted a ministerial crime prevention community imbizo to address crime challenges at the Don Mateman Civic Centre in Eldorado Park.
The engagement, themed Strengthening Partnership with Citizens for Safer Communities, followed closely on the heels of the April 15 signing of the Gauteng Safety Agreement to boost crime-fighting efforts.
Violent crime has ravaged Eldorado Park for decades, with recent cases of attacks on e-hailing drivers, gang-related violence and shootings.
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Mathela met with residents to address the immediate security concerns plaguing their community.
Mayor Dada Morero and the deputy national commissioner for crime detection, Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya, accompanied him.
Morero stressed that safety was not just a policy issue but a matter of survival for the community.
“No community can grow, no economy can thrive, and no child can dream safely in an environment riddled with crime,” he said, highlighting the urgent need for tangible action to prevent crime.
Sibiya echoed the mayor’s sentiments, stressing the importance of community-police interaction in addressing crime-related concerns.
“The imbizo provides an opportunity to find lasting solutions to communities affected by drugs, guns and gang violence,” he said, emphasising the need for collaboration to tackle these issues.
Residents expressed their outrage and desperation at the upsurge in crime in their community, citing robberies by Uber drivers, gang attacks, drug peddling to children, SAPS corruption and the insensitivity of police authorities when reporting cases.
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Most complained about not being attended to with cases, police insensitivity and a lack of resources, all of which have ruined their confidence in the police.
One resident shared her two experiences last year of the pointing of firearms. Even after reporting the incidents, she has seen no progress because the dockets went missing. She feels helpless and disillusioned with the system.
A CPF member called on the police to send many officers during operations.
“We need the police to come out in large numbers, not 30 or 40 but 200 or more to be effective and show who is the boss when carrying out operations,” he said.
He also underscored the need for the police to have a visible and assertive presence to restore safety and order in the community.
The event had police counters where residents could discuss their safety concerns in private and information booths outside the hall, allowing residents to consult and get help.
Their demands for increased police visibility and interaction demonstrate the community’s longing for a safe environment where they can live without fear of violence and crime.
