Tsakane residents march against crime
Tsakane - Residents of Basotho Section marched from Ndabezitha Street to the Tsakane Police Station on Tuesday to voice their concerns about crime and their dissatisfaction with the local SAPS.
The march’s coordinator, Bashim Malinga, says police are no longer serving their purpose as the community has experienced an alarming increase in crime.
Residents handed over a memorandum of their concerns to the police station.
According to Malinga, corruption at the station is rife and investigating officers make money by selling dockets.
“Drug dealing, house breaking and robberies have increased dramatically from last month, and nothing has been done”, he says.
Malinga says the community is demanding the removal of station commander Col Petro Shilane and other senior management.
Residents also want detectives replaced with officers from other areas, and demand that officers working in the charge office wear their name tags.
Malinga believes National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega should, together with representatives from the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, and the National Prosecuting Authority, hold a meeting with the community.
Tsakane police spokesman Capt Petros Mabuza says Brig Jacobus Kruger accepted the memorandum on behalf of the police station and has acknowledged the residents’ complaints.
“There will be a meeting with the concerned residents in two weeks time and a formal response will be given to the community” concludes Mabuza.
