Katlehong community voices concerns regarding crime

The residents of Motloung Section, Katlehong, voiced their dissatisfaction with the lack of policing and ineffective investigations on reported cases at the Katlehong North SAPS.

They voiced these sentiments during a follow-up community meeting held at Freedom Square Park, on October 25.

The first meeting was called by the Katlehong North CPF on September 13.

The meeting was attended by CPF chairperson Otto Sibeko, deputy chairperson Comet Moopi and sector manager Sergeant Goliath from Katlehong North SAPS.

The purpose was to provide crime statistics, respond to the community’s concerns, note their suggestion, nominate sector crime forum members and provide feedback on Masilo Mazibuko’s alleged rape and murder case.

Sibeko opened the meeting with a feedback report on Masilo Mazibuko’s alleged rape and murder case, noting that at the last meeting that the community demanded the investigating officer Detective Sergeant Twala to provide feedback.

A delegation of five, including Dumisani Mthembu, Ouma Mavimbela, Xolisile Mtshali, Nomvula Ngwenya and Tshepo Mtheletsane was to meet with the IO and the station commander Brigadier Nomthandazo Gumbi to follow-up on the progress of the case.

Twala was not present to give an account of the overdue murder and rape case. To date, no one has been arrested for the murder of an innocent eight-year-old who was raped and killed in October 2020.

Sibeko left many community members, who were expecting to get clarity on the progress of the case, disappointed after he told the community that the status of the case could only be shared with the victim.

“The victim in this case is the mother of the deceased child. The delegation was tasked to find the mother because she was not around, she was home in Mozambique.

“They were told that once they found her, they should bring her to the station to get feedback. They returned two to three weeks to report that they had found the mother but she did not have time for a visit.

“When they followed up with her a month later, she refused to go to the police station. She asked how that would help her as it would not bring back her daughter,” said Sibeko.

Crime statistics

According to Goliath, the biggest challenge in the community is assault, both common with 88 cases and Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH).

He said most of the cases of assault involve romantic partners as it happens indoors.

He also highlighted 13 attempted murders, one compelled rape case, stock theft, cremini injuria, two arson cases, three common robberies, four business robberies targeting taverns and tuck-shops and hijacking and vehicle theft.

Last month (September) a vehicle was stolen almost every day. All kinds of vehicles were stolen, be it a Toyota Quantum, Mahindra, Opel Corsa, Nissan 1400, or GTI Golf.

“Most of the time the car will end up at the border and once it is over the border gate it is gone you will never see it again. The criminals are smart.”

He said hijackers are using different methods to hijack.

“The old-school way is to wait for you in the driveway. There is also the method of two cars following you, with one in front and the other behind. The front vehicle will hit the brakes to block the road and they will take your car.

“Another method is that they drive behind you and attempt to make you stop the vehicle. They will, for example, tell you that your tyre is flat.”

The community’s concern

Community members took turns to share crime challenges affecting them. They said not only do police fail to actively prevent crime in the community but they collude with drug dealers.

Brenda Kubheka complained that they live close to the police station but crime is rife in the area.

“I reported a theft case on the morning of October 20 after a bicycle was stolen at my home. I received the case number at 21:00 via SMS but the police never followed up.

“It has been five days since the case was reported but the investigating officer has never visited the crime scene to see what had happened,” said Kubheka.

Thami Phondo said the community has an issue with drugs.

Muzi Khumalo highlighted that the Motloung Section has a challenge of criminals who rob people of their belongings at night.

“I was robbed at the park at night and I did not see the suspects. Our community needs patrollers. My plea is for the government to install street lights for the sake of our safety,” said Khumalo.

Teboho Tshabalala raised his concern about CPF’s requests for information regarding drug dealing citing that the police never provide them with any information.

Rebecca Nkabinde questioned whether Sibeko would sell her out. This is after Sibeko told the community to report the drug issues to him instead of reporting at the client service centre.

Street committee coordinator Thomas Maluthana said the justice system has failed Masilo Mazibuko.

He said Mazibuko reported four cases in four years at Katlehong North SAPS and they are no longer seeing the delegation that was elected to follow-up and provide the community with feedback.

Another concern that was raised during the meeting is the issue of illicit and expired goods that are sold by foreign spaza-shop owners, which poses a health risk for residents.

Sibeko said every spaza shop will be monitored by the Department of Health to inspect the goods and products.

“Home Affairs will confirm whether the owners have the correct documents to be in the country. The SAPS will arrest suspects and EMPD will implement by-laws,” said Sibeko.

On the matter of the justice system failing people, he noted that the whole of South Africa complains.
He said the police do arrest criminals but at times the court releases them on bail for free.

“The protest you see at courts is because the justice system is failing people,” he added.

Sibeko said the community should take photographs of police vehicles that are seen visiting drug dealers to collect bribes and provide them to him.

“A vehicle registration can help to identify the police officer using the vehicle.”

He noted that the community should patrol their own areas citing that other sections have patrollers and they are not affected by crime.

On the issue of the safety of patrollers, he said the patrollers are vetted.

“If a registered patroller should die during patrols, the DCS will pay for the family.”

The community was urged to work together with the police to address the challenge of drugs.