Residents raise concern over buying, selling of stolen goods

Disgruntled residents led by radio personality, Shonisani ‘Ashifashaba’ Muleya, coloured the city streets black and yellow as they raised voices against buying and selling of stolen goods in shops around the city during a march to various state offices last Wednesday.
The group handed over copies of a memorandum of grievances to the Polokwane Police Station, Office of the Premier and the Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (Ledet).
Their demands include creating visible policing in communities, ensuring that shops comply with conditions contained in their permits and finding creative and innovative ways of reducing crime in the city.
When addressing the crowd outside his office, Ledet MEC Thabo Mokone instructed his Head of Department, Solly Kgopong to urgently have a meeting with group leaders for the purpose of forming a task team that would come up with effective ways to deal with the issues raised.
Mokone further said they would liaise with the municipalities to strengthen the by-laws governing shops and pledged that his office would deal with hindrances faced by those who need operating licences. He thanked the group for raising such concerns with the department and added that it was a good thing that residents step up to the plate to tackle issues head on.
Mokone reminded the crowd to be on the lookout for opportunities at the department as he mentioned that his office believes in transparency and would advertise job offers for the public to know. At the time of going to print Muleya indicated that the meeting was set for yesterday (Wednesday) and pledged to give Polokwane Observer an update in due course.

Story and photos: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za