Picture File: Police Minister Bheki Cele in Pimville Soweto, 28 April 2022. Picture: Nigel Sibanda
Police Minister Bheki Cele is expected to lead a Ministerial Crime Combating Imbizo in West Village, Krugersdorp on Saturday following protests in the West Rand over crime and illegal mining.
The imbizo will take place in the same community where eight young women were gang-raped last Thursday during a music video shoot at a disused mine.
The alleged perpetrators are believed to be zama zamas (illegal miners) who live and conduct illicit mining operations in the area.
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Police have since arrested more than 80 illegal miners who have appeared in court, but none of them has been linked to the sexual attacks. Authorities are awaiting pending DNA results to positively link the suspects to the mass rape incident.
The suspects have been charged with being in the country illegally.
According to the Police Ministry, the imbizo on Saturday was convened in an effort to address illicit mining and crimes generated by the illegal mining operations.
The gathering will include the departments of Mineral Resources and Energy and Home Affairs. National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola will also engage with the community.
“The Crime Combating Izimbizo seeks to provide residents with a platform to discuss and engage the Saps on identified crimes afflicting the community and set up immediate and long-term policing interventions.
“The community meetings also aims to promote and improve community-police relations,” said Police Ministry spokesperson Lirandzu Themba.
The second installation of the crime combating imbizo will be on Sunday in Kagiso, near Krugersdorp.
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