In the past weeks, the Newcastle Municipality, along with leaders in law enforcement in the Amajuba District, led by the SAPS Commissioner of the Amajuba District Major General Fred Alexander, visited the area after a spate of violent killings allegedly carried out by ‘gangs”” in the area.
In an interview with the Newcastle Advertiser, one resident shared a poignant account of life amid this turmoil. Sandile Ngwenya articulated the pervasive fear that grips the community:
“When evening falls, as a resident, you better ensure you are at home or close to home,“ he said.
He, just like many other Osizweni residents, has had to alter his life due to the constant threats of violence. Ngwenya attributes this to what many call gangs – groups of young boys, some as young as 13 – who are terrorising the community.
“These boys are heavily influenced by the previous gangster groups, such as the Last Warnings’ and ‘Juveniles’. They want the notoriety; even a sense of celebrity status, and are under immense peer pressure to join these gangs,” explained Ngwenya.
He described how violence often erupts between rival gangs for various reasons, some criminal, such as robberies, and some as a show of dominance. “Gangs are formed according to the various sections of the township and different schools, with violence spilling out onto school grounds and into the whole community.”
Ngwenya said it is just an assumption that the gang violence was dealt with by the police. “They will lock up maybe 10 of these boys and think they have eradicated gangsterism, not taking into account that there may be an estimated 150 boys in one gang,” he warned.
During a recent community engagement session, residents voiced their concerns about the Osizweni police, accusing them of neglecting their duty to protect the community. Ngwenya shares the community’s frustration:
“Sometimes I even ask myself if we do have a police service where are they in Osizweni.”
Looking ahead, he urged the municipality and the Amajuba district police to take decisive action. “While I understand that the municipality is not directly responsible, we implore them to facilitate interventions from the Newcastle and Madadeni SAPS as the local police have failed us.”
In response to the escalating crisis, Newcastle Municipality recently convened a follow-up meeting to discuss strategies for addressing crime and its underlying social issues. The meeting included leadership from both the Newcastle and Amajuba District Municipalities, along with law enforcement representatives.
In his address, Newcastle Mayor Xolani Dube urged all those present to work together in combating the issue of violence terrorising the community. “This is an urgent call for action against inhumane acts that have been terrorising the communities of Newcastle. We need to be visible and provide all the necessary services to our communities,” he said.
“We urge all leaders to prioritize this issue, as it is spiralling out of control and could soon become an unmanageable problem for all of Newcastle,” concluded Ngwenya.
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