Bring back SAPS patrol vehicles in our neighbourhoods

Residents claim crucial services once rendered to communities by SAPS have fallen below par and have left much to be desired. Some residents in different communities around Kathorus are beginning to speak out about what they claim is the lack of support from local law enforcement as crime escalates.

Some residents claim it no longer matters where you live in Kathorus, residents in these areas all complain about what they claim is the lack of public policing. This, residents claim has led to criminals taking over as acts of crime increase.

According to residents the lack of visible policing, such as the presence of police patrol vehicles has left a gap that has allowed criminals to occupy the space and terrorise communities with impunity.

Although the issue of crime in communities is a serious matter that affects people’s lives, not everyone who is affected is willing to speak out openly.

Residents claim that most of the criminals who commit crimes in their neighbourhoods are known to the residents. Some of the criminals in their neighbourhoods are children of residents, and some residents are too scared to point them as perpetrators of crime for fear of reprisals.

With the diminishing presence of visible SAPS public policing in some areas, members of these communities often turn to mob justice to deal with criminals they perceive to be troublesome in their areas.

Rising acts of crime have made many communities feel vulnerable and exposed to ruthless acts of crime in their neighbourhoods. In some parts of Kathorus, the police have had to deal with several cases of home invasions by criminals. There are also calls to the new police minister Senzo Mnchunu to speed up the establishment of specialised anti-crime patrol units with the SAPS to deal with crime.

Some residents are even talking about the former police head Bheki Cele’s notorious “Ama-Beret” anti-crime unit which they claim was responsible for reducing crime in the townships.

That’s how much power police have over everyone.

The majority of Kathorus residents believe that the sudden reduction of police presence on our streets has led to the sudden rise in acts of criminality and the general reign of rampant lawlessness experienced by the communities in the townships.

In fact, for as long as each one of us can remember the overbearing presence of policemen in our lives is as old as our sojourn in the townships. Unless our communal relationship with the police system in our communities is restored, our future relationship with each other in our communities will be governed by mob justice and vigilantism. Is that what we want?

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