Transport MEC urges uMkhanyakude communities to cease vigilante acts of arson

The Big 5 Hlabisa community must exercise restraint and work with law enforcement agencies in resolving cross-border crime.

This passionate plea was made by Community Safety and Liaison MEC Sipho Hlomuka following an increase in community revolt and threats of taking the law into their own hands to address the surge in cases.

In the latest incidents over the weekend, four vehicles believed to be those of Mozambique nationals were torched on the R22 between Hluhluwe and Manguzi.

It is believed that some community members spotted a vehicle with Mozambique number plates and gave chase.

It was reported that the occupants abandoned their vehicle and ran away. The vehicles were torched.

This follows the torching of a luxury tourist bus last Tuesday in the same area.

It is believed the violence was spiked by the abduction of a member of the KZN Legislature and his family members.

It is alleged their vehicles were stolen and abandoned in the bushes near the Mozambique border.

Hlomuka urged law enforcement agencies to crack down on the criminal syndicate that is terrorising the community. He said the increase in cases of hijacking is unacceptable.

“We are on the side of the victims, we sympathise with the people who have been terrorised and traumatised by the criminals. The pain the people have been subjected to needs to stop,” said Hlomuka.

“We are also following up on many cases, including that of a member of the Legislature who was abducted with his family. We appeal to law enforcement agencies to beef up deployment and crack down on the network of criminals.

“We also call on the community to refrain from taking the law into their own hands, but rather work with the enforcement agencies. We call for calm in uMkhanyakude,” he said.

Hlomuka added that the government is making a number of interventions, including increasing law enforcement deployment, beefing up investigation teams, improving resources to fight cross-border crime, and engaging with national government to facilitate talks with the Mozambican government.

“A series of meetings is being planned with various stakeholders, including the security cluster, to provide a comprehensive response to the latest developments,” explained Hlomuka.

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