Residents marched to two police stations on Saturday August 31 to voice their anger at the high levels of crime in Khayelitsha.
Pastor Xola Mafilika handed over a memorandum of demands to Harare and Lingelethu West police station commissioners Colonel Attwell Nodumo and Colonel Thembelani Mahlatshana who promised to respond soon.
“We are not here to bash the police but we want to work together with police and rid this township of crime,” said Pastor Mafilika.
“Communities that do not experience safety in their homes and streets can never feel free. We stand with community members who have been robbed, murdered, hijacked,” he said.
The issue of extortion was high on the agenda and most of those attending the march urged the police tackle it before it gets out of hand.
Another issues which needed to be addressed was that of spaza shops installing slot machines for gambling on their premises.
Khayelitsha Community police forum (CPF) leader Zanele Mbeki said children were stealing money from their parents to play on the machines.
She said there had also been muggings committed by men in cars and targeting mostly women on their way to work.
The open sale of drugs and stolen property next to Litsha Supermarket was also highlighted.
Th memorandum was handed to both commissioners and they were asked told deliver it to the Western Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile, and the Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, with the following demands:
• Double the number of members allocated to the Anti-Gang Unit.
• Assign the best detectives from around the country to support the SAPS in Khayelitsha.
• Deploy the SAPS National Intervention Unit /Special Task Force in Khayelitsha.
• Strengthen crime intelligence.
• Increase police visibility.
• Implement crime-fighting technology such as drones, CCTV cameras and ShotSpotter technology without delay.
“The community believes that law enforcement interventions must be coupled with opportunities for residents of Khayelitsha if we are to truly defeat gangsterism and crime. Surely increase the number of police vans and number of detectives vehicles to decrease the level of complaints by our communities.”
Councillor Mzwakhe Nqavashe, representing the City, said communities must play a role in the fight against crime.
“I believe we can only win when we stand united against crime. People must report crime when they see it otherwise police cannot effectively do their work without our support,” said Mr Nqavashe.
Colonel Nodumo said he acknowledged the memorandum and vowed to send it to the higher echelons of the police.
“We are happy to listen to you because you speak with knowledge and realisation that crime is our common enemy. When people open up communication like this, you are putting criminals in a difficult position,” he said.
