Following the recent brutal murder of Thorisho Themane, residents in the city and surrounds engaged in numerous activities aimed at sending a strong message to the culprits and seeking justice for the aspiring musician and student.
Angry residents converged for a community meeting with the Police and Polokwane Community Policing Forum (CPF) at Flora Park Comprehensive Primary School last Wednesday, engaged in protest action outside Polokwane Magistrates’ Court last Thursday and marched to Polokwane Police Station to hand over copies of a memorandum of grievances and demands on Friday followed by a silent march to the grieving family later that day.
During the community meeting which was attended by over 1 500 people, angry residents who were afforded a platform to convey their view on the matter threatened to take the law into their own hands if the justice system fails to punish the perpetrators. The crowd was addressed by acting Provincial Police Commissioner Jan Scheepers and Polokwane CPF Chairperson Dawie Botes, who pledged that they would do anything in their power to ensure that the criminals were brought to book.
Residents were sceptical about the pronouncements as they pointed out several criminal cases that have allegedly faded into thin air. Among the cases brought to mind was that of a boy reportedly stabbed allegedly by the same suspects in the Themane case in December. Another was the matter of a drug lord who, after spending only a day behind bars, bragged about bribing Police officers.
Police visibility in the area was also questioned and residents claimed that officers spent most of their time at a filling station in the area, enjoying free pies. They requested that municipal public safety unit personnel patrol the parks and playing fields in the suburb to ensure children’s safety.
African National Congress Youth League Peter Mokaba Regional Chairperson, Tony Rachuene after delivering the memorandum to Provincial Police Commissioner Nneke Ledwaba, said some of their demands included the arrest of gangsters in townships and for Themane’s case to be dealt with as soon as possible. He further said they also demanded that Police visibility should increase in Flora Park.
When addressing the angry crowd Ledwaba indicated that they would be ruthless in dealing with any violent crime. “These speedy arrests are an indication that the Police will not hesitate to take strong action against anyone who engages in any violent behaviour that results in the death of another person,” he stressed. He concluded by making an appeal to communities to give the Police the necessary space to investigate the Themane case without any hindrance and that they should instead assist by providing information that would be helpful in cracking the case.
Story: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za
