Samora Machel residents are fed up with lazy police officers, robberies and the constant theft of their belongings, especially from their homes in broad daylight – a crime which they say has been steadily escalating since 2022.
Voicing their concerns at the Ministerial Imbizo on Wednesday January 8 at Sophumelela Secondary School, the residents said nothing is being done by police to make the area safer.
Among those on the panel were deputy Minister of Police, Cassel Mathale, the acting national police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Tebello Mosikili, the deputy national commissioner for crime detection, Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya, the acting deputy national commissioner for support services, Lieutenant-General Lineo Nkhuoa,the Provincial Commissioner of the Western Cape, Lieutenant-General Thembisile Patekile, and MEC for Community Safety, Anroux Marais.
Residents who spoke said Samora Machel is the most scary place in the province. They appealed to the ministers and deputies to intervene. Some claimed that the robbers were youth aged between 12 and 16.
Local activist and Sanco secretary Unathi Mlamla said the level of crime in Samora Machel is higher than in any other township.
She said there are not enough police vehicles to patrol the area. “That alone increases the level of crime. We have a lot of crime hotspots on the main road but police cannot reach them. We humbly request that there be a stationary van near there. Those who work are robbed day and night, to and from work,” she said.
One resident, Ntombizodwa Mkhaba, claimed the police station closes at 6pm – at the time when the robberies are rife. She said if one opens a case with police, they do not treat it seriously.
“Nothing is right in Samora Machel. We are told to report those kinds of police but here, police do not wear their name tags. They are not here to service us but their pockets. They are happy to get their salaries at the end of the month,” she said.
Another resident, Nosakhele Mbinda, appealed for a permanent police station to be built in place of the satellite station. He said police of the area always complain about the shortage of vehicles. “They are lazy and care less. It is young children that are robbing us. Police should respond when we need them.”
Residents said they have built walls and have steel gates but it does not keep the criminals out.
Responding to residents’ complaints, the deputy Minister of Police Polly Boshielo said it was important to come together to address issues that communities grapple daily.
She assured the residents that they have heard their cries.
She said the ministerial Imbizo is in line with the SAPS’ broader strategy of fighting crime through enhancing relations between the community and the police.
Ms Boshielo said community members are in possession of illegal firearms and these illegal firearms are used to commit some of the most heinous of crimes in our communities.
“In most cases we know who the perpetrators of crime are. We live with them, we laugh with them and we know what they do when no one is looking. Crime has a huge impact on communities. There are societal and economic costs. Families are torn apart, the youth end up in prison cells and communities are left with no investment potential. Crime wreaks havoc wherever it passes. We need social cohesion to fight against crime in this community,” she said.
Ms Boshielo said she was glad that they had members of faith-based organisations present on the day, for they too play an important role in moulding our communities, especially the youth.
She said the fight against crime is not only for the police but residents also need partnerships to drive awareness. She said there should be collaboration between government departments, schools, NGOs and religious institutions.
“We know there are such partnerships already, but we are calling for more so that this message can be delivered to a wider population within the community.”
She requested community members to report criminal activities to the police. “We encourage residents to have a sense of ownership to their neighbourhood. There is a need for them to have a sense of shared responsibility. Report criminal activities even when they are committed by one of our own. A crime is a crime. It does not matter who commits it, the perpetrator will be brought to book.”
She said the ministry has heard the community and their concerns are valid. She assured the community that she will be meeting with the provincial as well as national management to pave a way forward in dealing with the crime situation of the area.
