THE recent spate of crime that has rocked uMhlanga, Nqutshini and Ngqolothi Reserves outside Ngwelezane has prompted City of uMhlathuze’s Ward 29 Cllr Mthunzi Mathenjwa to call for more community involvement.
Speaking to the Zululand Observer, after facilitating the establishment of uMhlanga Community Police Sub-Forum, Mathenjwa said his community has not yet recovered from the gruesome murder of school pupil Siphesihle Noxolo Ngobese, who was recently found raped and stabbed to death.
‘We are still living in shock as a community, as Ngobese was doing Grade 11 Sihubela High School, and her family was expecting a lot from her.
‘What saddens us most is that the perpetrators of this crime are still nowhere to be found.
‘By setting up such structures like the CPF we want to end these barbaric acts of violence in our society.’
Mathenjwa said the main objective of the CPF was to act as the eyes and ears of the police and to report any criminal elements taking place in both Ward 29 and part of Ward 25, because these wards fall under iNduna Khoza.
‘These men and women who make up the CPF Sub-Forum are Bonginhlanhla Mkhonza (Chairperson), Sibonelo Mathonsi (Deputy Chairperson), Nokwanda Nzimande (Secretary), Zama Zulu (Deputy Secretary), Dumisani Saraji (Treasurer), Stanely Qwabe (PRO) and other additional members.’
Mathenjwa who is also the CPF Chairperson in uThungulu District said they remain concerned about the increase of criminal cases, where community members get raped and murdered.
‘We have noted that cases such as house breaking, theft, car hijacking and contact crime are also at their peak in this area.
‘Our appeal to our community is to avoid walking alone during the night. We also want to warn our people not to buy stolen goods and to refrain from taking the law into their own hands.
‘People must report criminal activities to the police. There is a tendency that when people are robbed of their belongings worth about R100 like cellphones, they don’t report it to police. They tend to classify it as small crime.
‘There is nothing like small crime. Crime is crime
‘We are taking this crime fight seriously, in that we have reported this situation even to the National Minister of Police Nathi Nhleko, and he has promised to visit the area,’ added Mathenjwa.
