We can’t allow our city to be contaminated by thugs: mayor
The mayor of Ekurhuleni, Mondli Gungubele, said that the metro will not allow Ekurhuleni to be contaminated by thugs, who want to revert the city to the days of violence.
Gungubele was speaking at the launch of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign on Tuesday, November 25.
The event was held at the WJ Clements Stadium in Reiger Park.
He said the problem of crime and drugs in particular, is like a prisoner that holds the people of Reiger Park from progress.
He added that Ekurhuleni is a place of peace, and that the people of Ekurhuleni are indeed socially matured and continue to socially mature.
“In 2001 our people chose this name (Ekurhuleni) for this metro, because they were tired of political violence that had characterised their region, especially in the early 90s, but now thugs want to take us back to those days.
“What they were saying back then is ‘enough is enough’ to violence, and had shown their commitment to a culture of non-violence going forward.
“It is a tragedy that Reiger Park has been hogging the news headlines for the wrong reasons, especially when it comes to crime against children.
“Today we are still trying to come to terms with the brutal killing of Siphamandla Madikane, Taegrin Morris and Cuburne van Wyk, who all died way too early in their lives due to crime.
“We have a responsibility to ensure that these outstanding cases are resolved so that we can assist the affected families to achieve closure,” said Gungubele.
He showed his appreciation that Ekurhuleni was handed the honour of being the host of the launch of the 2014 addition of 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign.
“This launch would not have come to a better area than Reiger Park, considering the brutality meted out to the children by criminals here in recent months,” said Gungubele.
Along with other government officials, Gungubele on Monday, November 24, visited the affected families to give them hope and belief that government remains committed to resolving the murders that claimed their loved ones.
“We, the city, and province, agreed in one voice that even though there is progress in some of these cases, more still needs to be done, and done fast.”
The 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children runs until December 10.
The launch of the campaign in Reiger Park, attended by President Jacob Zuma, follows the death of four-year-old Taegrin Morris from Delmore Gardens who died after his parents’ VW Golf was hijacked from Reiger Park.
The little boy got stuck in the seatbelt and was dragged along the road, where he was later found dead outside the municipal-owned dilapidated building, located at 39 Market Street, Boksburg CBD.
Earlier this month, the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court withdrew all charges against Thamsanqa Twala, who had been accused of involvement in the death of the little boy.
Then there was the senseless murder of three-year-old Cuburne van Wyk whose partially burnt body was found at a mine dump in, Reiger Park.
A man known as ‘Chicken’ was arrested and is due in court again December 10.
The body of 10-year-old Siphamandla Madikane, from the Ramaphosa settlement, was found by a passer-by hidden in bushes last year. It is alleged that there is a possible link between the murder of Siphamandla and Cuburne’s murders. – @FanieBoksburg
