In a drive to involve communities in the fight against crime, 300 volunteers have been trained and deployed to community crime-fighting structures.

This was announced by KZN Premier Thami Ntuli at the Crime Fighting Imbizo held at Umzuvukile sports ground in eNseleni recently.

“The reason I am here today is that I am very concerned about criminal activities happening here in Empangeni and the surrounding areas,” he said.

“Among 184 police stations in KZN, Empangeni SAPS is in the top 10 for the number of cases reported.

“This clearly indicates that people of Empangeni and the whole of uMhlathuze live in fear due to criminal activities.”

The premier called for communities to unite in fighting this rise in crime.

“If the majority is not united, it is very easy to be tortured by the few. But if the majority works together, the criminals will be defeated and crime will decline,” said Ntuli.

“People responsible for these criminal activities are our children and the people we live with. They are known, but no one is reporting them to the police.”

Of notable concern, he said, was the alarming rate of drug and other dependencies in the region.

However, he says, some headway has been made in addressing crime.

“Since I took over the Community Safety and Liaison portfolio, crime has dropped by 13 per cent in KZN, and I appreciate the role of provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. We remain committed to improving the standard of community policing.”

Residents can report crime anonymously to the toll-free number 08600 10111.

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