MBOMBELA – Bus commuters no longer feel safe because of petty crime incidents that are rife in one of the busiests streets en route to the bus terminals.
Mpumalanga News learnt that criminal elements in town snatch items like watches, handbags and cellphones during rush hour.
It’s allegedly believed that the group pounce on unsuspecting commuters in the afternoons when they board buses with their groceries.
They have appealed to the Ehlanzeni District Municipality to come to their rescue by increasing the number of the safety ambassadors, reputed for doing a great job, in tackling issues of petty crime in the CBD.
”I use a bus on a daily basis because it’s affordable, but we have a problem with a group of thugs, they are taking our belongings in broad daylight. I’m one of the victims that was attacked last week Friday. They took my handbag and they managed to cut the belt with a knife. I tried to scream and shout for help, but people just looked at me as if I was crazy. It was also not the first time. It also happened early in January when they took my phone,” said Ms Sabitah Maluleke.
She stated that she fully supported the call of beefing up security at the terminals so that criminals could no longer do as they pleased.
“When I walk around Promenade Centre, I don’t stress or get worried that I might lose my bag or something because I know that the safety ambassadors know their story, they teach criminals a lesson. Now they are causing chaos here at the terminals, something must be done because they are taking advantage. They don’t go to the taxi rank because they know that taxi drivers don’t tolerate trouble,” added Maluleke.
