Community of Elsburg demand justice for Laticia and an end to crime in their suburb

“As I look out over the meeting I can see more police officers than community members, I wish it was like this all the time because then we would have no crime on our streets.”

These were the words of Elsburg community leader Prince Rulashe as he began the Elsburg community meeting at the Elsburg Methodist Church on Thursday.

Residents met to discuss the ongoing crime issues in the area, with special focus on the murder and alleged rape of Laticia Jansen (14).

 

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“No one will solve our problems if we don’t,” said Rulashe.

“The people of neighbouring towns will not solve the issues of Elsburg, they are fighting their own battles.

“It us, the community of Elsburg, who will fight these battles.”

Rulashe passed on his condolences to Jansen’s family.

 

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“I pray that on Saturday when we lay Jansen to rest, the police will tell us good news, that they have caught the monster/s responsible for this,” said Rulashe.

“We hope the police will catch the suspects before the community does.”

Rulashe’s opening question at the meeting centred around the challenges the Jansen family allegedly experienced when opening the missing person’s case at the Elsburg Police Station.

“We have heard there were problems when the family approached the Elsburg police for help,” said Rulashe.

“So we spoke to the family and they confirmed that they used their own dogs to locate the body when police failed to do so – which I find disgusting.

“It is a disgrace.

“One of the concerns of the family was when they came to the police station and were asked for a photo.

“In this day in age why could the police not get the photo off the phone?

“That was very concerning.”

 

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Rulashe asked the Elsburg SAPS station commander Col Linah Thethe to respond to these allegations, and to explain why the police need a hard copy photo.

Maj Gen Vincent Leshabane, SAPS district commissioner for Ekurhuleni, took to the floor on behalf of Thethe to address the Jansen case.

“We must be very careful not to undermine the constitution and the rule of law,” said Leshabane.

“We are currently investigating the case.

“If we must come here and tell you how we are investigating, that it is wrong, we only have to brief the family.

“We cannot inform everyone of what is transpiring.”

Leshabane explained that he was aware that the Jansen family was unhappy with the service they received at the Elsburg Police Station.

“Once a missing person’s case has been opened, officers should be summoned to search for the person,” he said.

“But in this case this never happened.

“As we speak steps are being taken against the officers who did not assist the family, though I cannot divulge what these steps are.

“It was further claimed that the community helped locate the body, while police where loafing around, however, this is not true; it was the family and their dogs not the community members who found the body.”

 

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Leshabane urged the community to work hand in hand with the police.

“With statements like ‘before we can bury the child you must come and tell us you’ve arrested the suspects, as though the police killed the child’, sends the wrong message,” said Leshabane.

Leshabane further explained he visited the scene where Jansen’s body was found.

“I went there with Jansen’s brother, Dino, and asked him to show me where they found the body,” said Leshabane.

Leshabane appealed to community members to come forward with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspect/s responsible for the crime.

“There are rewards available for information that will lead to the arrest of the suspect/s,” said Leshabane.

“I believe that the suspect/s are from the area, but we do not know for sure.

“But anyone could have information.”

Leshabane further urged the community to also report misconduct by the police.

Rulashe then opened the floor to comments from the community, who suggested Leshabane take a walk through the streets of Elsburg to see what residents have to deal with.

“I am happy Leshabane was able to see for himself the state of lawlessness in Elsburg,” said Rulashe.

“As a community we are calling for the deployment of Amaberethe (a special law enforcement unit) in Elsburg.”

Leshabane urged Thethe to ensure her officers do more to address the issues within their precinct.

“We will continue to engage with the community and officials until we have reclaimed Elsburg,” said Rulashe.

 

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Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor) germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za, Leigh Hodgson (News Editor) leighh@caxton.co.za 

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