Poor SAPS service blamed for rampant crime in city

The meeting deliberated on forging a strong alliance between government, anti-crime activists and community forums (such as the CPF) to curb crime.

The two-and-a-half-hour-long crime meeting was held at the Van Dyk Park community hall on Saturday, February 13.

Frustrated Ekurhuleni residents voiced their concerns about what they called the ever-growing crime rate in their different communities throughout Ekurhuleni.

Among the attendees were the Provincial Detective Commander Brigadier Johan Ndlovu, chairperson of the newly-formed Ekurhuleni Crime Intervention Unit Richard Pillay, the Mayor of Ekurhuleni Mondli Gungubele, Ekurhurleni City Manager Khaya Ngema, the newly appointed EMPD chief of police Bafana Mahlabe, Ekurhuleni MMC for Human Settlements Clr Aubrey Nxumalo, and Ekurhuleni COO Dr Imogen Mashazi.

Some of the major points of discussion were sharing of information on crime and criminals in order to control it, formulating a radical plan to deal with the illegal drug trade in the city, intensifying patrols and increasing police visibility in the city’s crime hot spots.

Improving police response time for emergencies was also discussed.

On behalf of the concerned residents, the chairperson of the newly-formed Ekurhuleni Crime Intervention Unit Richard Pillay gave a presentation on criminals who constantly target residents of Ekurhuleni, making life miserable for people and make them want to move out.

According to Pillay, his unit consists of members of the public who are genuinely interested in looking at initiatives and ways of fighting crime and working together to reduce crime in their respective communities.

The organisation pushes and promotes citizen involvement in the fight against crime, while also holding authorities accountable to the public they serve.

Pillay described the meeting on Saturday as a cry for help from the people of Ekurhuleni.

In his presentation, Pillay lambasted the Dawn Park SAPS for allegedly failing to serve the community of Van Dyk Park and other areas falling under the precinct properly.

He described the Dawn Park police station as the worst and most incompetent police station in the province, and accused its members of lackluster performance.

“Police officers don’t properly investigate crimes, and respond late to incidents or not at all.

“Victims are not receiving feedback about their complaints, and some cases were closed without proper investigation, let alone informing the complainant,” said Pillay.

He said the Dawn Park police inefficiencies had forced residents to take it upon themselves to deal with crime in their neighbourhoods.

“Residents now use their resources and take the risk of patrolling the streets without protective gear.

“We are saying that is unacceptable, and we want to see change before many people lose their lives and properties to criminals,” said Pillay.

Pillay requested the Provincial Detective Commander Brigadier Johan Ndlovu to conduct docket inspection at the Dawn Park police station, adding that residents were not afraid to name the people who are not doing their jobs at the police station in question.

“It is embarrassing that we have trained people with resources to fight crime, but criminals are still ruling in our communities.”

Ndlovu in turn thanked residents for bringing SAPS members’ shortcomings to his attention, adding that all the complaints would be attended to urgently.

He said they had already started with the docket inspection a few weeks ago at Dawn Park, and mentioned that it had emerged that some cases were not properly addressed.

Ndlovu promised to share the findings of the inspection with residents once it has been concluded.

Pillay also told the team of officials led by the mayor that residents were concerned about the lack of EMPD visibility in certain areas of the city.

He said residents were concerned about the drug trade happening in broad daylight in most of the towns within the metro.

Residents also complained about overcrowding and high number of illegal immigrants occupying the old mine houses in Van Dyk Park.

Other complaints included dysfunctional streets lights, long grass and trees not being cut, blocked drains and corrupt metro officials.

In his presentation, Pillay kept focusing on drug peddling and the sale of stolen goods.

“Drug dealers move from Boksburg North to open their bases in the other areas of Ekurhuleni with impunity, destroying families in the process.

“They have also opened a number of churches in our communities and when you check the members in charge of those branches are well-known drug dealers, who are also armed.

“It is also a concern how at spaza shops stolen goods hijacked from trucks are being sold.

“There is no way of selling five litre cooking oil worth R60 for R20. Never! That is not bulk buying but selling stolen items.”

The newly appointed EMPD Chief of Police Bafana Mahlabe told the crowd that they were taking the residents complaints very serious.

Mahlabe said the EMPD had already teamed up with the SAPS to deal with the scourge of crime in the city, and encouraged residents including the community forums to share information with the EMPD.

“We have already identified the areas that are problematic in our city, and we will team up with the SAPS to intensify our patrols,” said Mahlabe.

Mahlabe said part of their plans is to rid all the towns of drug dealers, prostitutes and others through intelligence- driven policing.

The mayor in turn told the crowd that the city would like to work with community members to deal with crime and other issues that were affecting residents.

He also applauded residents for their effort to assist authorities in the fight against crime.

“You as the residents mustn’t be apologetic to ask us to do our job as government, because you pay us to do it. We are not doing you a favour – it’s our duty to serve you.

“The primary thing is to work together and be united from across the whole political spectrum – these are not political issues but South African issues.”

City Manager Ngema assured residents that all the issues raised during the meeting, including the damaged street lights, long grass and blocked drains, would be dealt with soon. -@FanieFLK