Crime spirals out of control and irritates communities
Crime is spiralling out of control and residents in different communities around Kathorus are getting irritated, while the police seem overwhelmed by angry calls for help from terrified residents.
Concerned Katlehong residents attended a community meeting called by the local SAPS station commander Brigadier Albertina Vesi on April 29.
In a police report filed by Katlehong SAPS media spokesperson, Constable Sivenkosi Mtwa, the station commander was accompanied by several other ranked officers, among them;
• The branch commander, Lieutenant Colonel Van den Berg
• Operational commander Lieutenant Colonel SHezi
• Vispol support commander, Lieutenant Colonel Maele
• Crime officer team leader, Warrant Officer Mathe
• Sector managers and community policing forum members
Also attending were local councillors and hostel leaders (izinduna) from the nearby hostels. The meeting comes after the community had raised various issues of crime that are starting to get out of hand within their respective communities.
Mtwa pointed out that even though no one has come forward to lodge a case with the police the community seeks ways to live their lives freely and safely during all hours of the day and night.
What is of concern to the community is that victims of crime are targeted when they return from the places of entertainment in their areas.
During the discussions, it was suggested that there should be volunteers that will patrol in the evenings, more especially now that it will soon be winter. This means it will get dark earlier and the nights will also be longer.
The station commander praised the commitment shown by both hostel and township dwellers in finding ways to work with the police and advised the community not to commit mob justice or vigilantism where people take the law into their own hands.
“Two wrongs cannot make one right,” said Vesi.
