‘Prepare for a mass funeral’: Operation Dudula warns Bheki Cele

Angry Soweto residents tossed an ultimatum at Police Minister Bheki Cele yesterday: get rid of the foreign criminal informal settlements within a month or we’ll do it ourselves … and you’ll have to dig plenty of graves afterwards.

The gauntlet was thrown down by Operation Dudula leader Nhlanhla “Lux” Mohlauli, who said: “If the squatter camps are still there on Sunday [29 May], you might as well prepare a mass funeral because we’re going all out, guns blazing.”

Pimville residents declared war against illegal foreigners, who they claim have been terrorising the community, following a cable theft-related shooting which claimed the life of community member Kgomotso Diale.

ALSO READ: Two suspects arrested in connection with Operation Dudula shooting

Cele returned to Pimville yesterday to lead a ministerial street imbizo, or gathering, at the community hall to engage the people who live there and address the issue of identified crimes and policing concerns. He heard multiple threats of vigilante violence.

According to a resident, Thabang Moloi, SA was already under siege by illegal migrants, who were now allegedly comfortable due to “SA’s unlawlessness”.

Moloi told Cele the SA Police Service (Saps) had 30 days to shut down the informal settlements at Chicken Farm, Maseru and the Goudkopies Landfill dumping site. People living there were accused of perpetrating crimes, including cable theft and drug manufacturing.

“I’m so emotional; I’m standing here and asking myself how I survived. There’s press here, ministers, mayors and so forth but when we needed you, you were not never there,” Moloi said holding back tears.

He told Cele the community had lost its trust in Saps because, even after the briefing and imbizo, within seven days the crime and terrorism would have started again. “If you don’t close the down the Chicken Farm, we’ll close it ourselves. This is Soweto.”

ALSO READ: Cele met with insults by angry residents in Soweto

Mohlauli said the community was tired of talking about the issues around illegal migrants and cable theft, as he joined forces with hostel dweller Ndoni Ntshangase, who vowed to join Dudula in the fight against crime.

“The first number; those who recycle and walk among our township should stop: it’s no longer allowed; those who push their stolen trolleys from Pick n Pay with vegetables are no longer allowed,” Mohlauli told the community.

He also asked Cele to open charges against politicians who encouraged people to grab land illegally and said those politicians were instigators of crime and lawlessness.

Cele told the community they had a right to mobilise to fight crime and work for their safety, but that it must be done within the boundaries of the law. He encouraged the police to act decisively against those who broke the law.

“I hear you, and I understand your anger, but let me ask you this: bring us those names of the police officers who accept bribes and also use state cars, because the people were are talking about are here among us,” Cele urged.

“Bring those officers with their girlfriends and also bring the landlords who give illegal foreigners rooms to rent because they allow people who are not documented to live in their houses.”

Another community member, Tholoana Seewal, said the only reason the minister was there was because a corpse came out of Pimville. “Why should a person die for you to do the job you’re paid for?” she asked.

“The life of a poor black person in this country under this government is very cheap.

“Because Kgomotso died, you’re all here to act as if you care,” she said. “I’m very angry that it was only after a resident died that you decide to raid those informal settlements. Only now do you decide to stand up.”

Seewal said, as a person who abided by and respected the law, it was hard to accept illegal migrants who failed to respect the laws of this country.

Meanwhile, an early morning raid at Chicken Farm informal settlement led to the arrests of 20 undocumented people. Other Saps officers raided the Goudkopies Landfill dumping site for undocumented people and stolen goods.

– reitumetsem@citizen.co.za