Youth take to the streets in Villa Liza to march against crime

The community is demanding that police should come up with strategies that can help the community reduce the high crime rate in the area.

Young people of Villa Liza took to the streets on June 30 to march against crime in the area.

The streets of Villa Liza were abuzz with young people chanting struggle songs as they marched against crime on June 30.

The march set off in the morning from the Villa Liza sports ground and ended at the Dawn Park SAPS where they handed over a memorandum of demands.

The memorandum outlines residents’ concerns on criminal matters, police visibility and regular school searches.

According to Mpho Mokoena, organiser of the march: “Young people are no longer safe in our community. There are learners attending night classes and they aren’t safe anymore either because of the high rate of criminal activities.

“It is not even safe for residents to walk to the Dawn Park Shopping Complex.

“We understand that the Dawn Park SAPS is a small police station but we need them to come up with strategies on how they will be able to work with the community in meeting their needs.”

The station commander at Dawn Park SAPS, Lt Col Johannes Makhubo, confirmed that they had received the memorandum and they will respond within 14 days.

Mokoena said if the Dawn Park SAPS doesn’t respond, they will be forced to organise another march involving everyone in Villa Liza and they will march to the Customer Care Centre and the EMPD offices in Vosloorus.