MP worried about high crime

Crime in Alexandra was identified as the foremost enemy which requires a solid and holistic strategy to overcome.

This was said by the area’s member of the Gauteng provincial legislature Godfrey Tsotetsi following the recent release of the unrelenting crime statistics by Police Minister Beki Cele.

Read: Latest crime statistics for SA 2018

“The strategy requires citizens to put national interests and patriotism above party and other affiliations and, not finger-pointing as it is everywhere including the home through domestic violence and the workplace through white and blue collar offences,” Tsotetsi said.

He said that the police who can’t be everywhere, will not control it and need public participation. “All citizens have a role to play in rebuilding the country by getting rid of the residual effects of violence and criminality nurtured from centuries of destruction and division caused by apartheid.”

In reference to decaying morals resulting in domestic violence in the home, burglaries, substance and sexual abuse, violence in schools and, fear by citizens to walk freely in the streets, he said, “We need to understand the underlying causes of crime rather than focusing on the symptoms.”

Read: Man’s crimes weigh him down

Tsotetsi concluded that the statistics for the township were worrying and urged all residents and stakeholders to participate in the local security cluster to develop strategies for continuous mobilisation and campaigns, re-establish block and street committees, deal with unemployment, encourage youth to engage in entrepreneurship training, participate in community projects to instill a culture of belonging and respect of each other.