With only 69 days in office, the MMC for Public Safety, Michael Sun took to the busy October month-end streets and businesses in Alexandra on an anti-corruption and -fraud campaign with councillors, Metro police and Emergency Management Services staff.
Sun urged the public not to be tempted into corrupt activities, particularly with council officials and especially the Metro police as that breeds a criminal culture and impunity which will not stop, to the detriment of the City and country. With support from some residents and the Metro police shouting ‘… down with corruption, down…’ the officers handed out and explained pamphlets on anti-corruption as Sun listened to and advised residents on other undesirable criminal and illegal activities, such as the sale of land and housing and the illegal construction of shacks. He urged them to be responsible stakeholders, concerned about their area by reporting all corruption, engaging with the police and cluster commanders as partners and obeying the bylaws, especially by the street traders.
“If left to fester, corruption and fraud will be a difficult scourge to stop and bylaws need to be respected,” Sun said. He also committed to tackling residents’ concerns on traffic congestion, road safety and bad driving, which some said, was by many people driving without licences and vehicles in poor condition.
Chairperson of council’s Public Safety Committee, councillor Hilton Maseko, urged the public against bribing city officials, in particular, the Metro police, saying it encouraged unroadworthy vehicles to remain on the roads, risking lives. “We (City council) need the public’s cooperation to get rid of this criminal practice by reporting Metro officers, identifiable by name badges, whenever they solicit bribes.
“Only with their support will we be able to reform the police and make them friendly and service oriented.”
Some taxi drivers urged for improved safety and roads, with some attaching anti-corruption stickers to their vehicles. Traders requested the MMC to strengthen bylaw implementation and residents urged for speed bumps to be erected on some roads to stop vehicles from speeding, and for more police visibility.
Details: Councillor Hilton Maseko 072 523 8582.
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