The Department of Police, Roads and Transport together with South African Police service hosted a successful Crime prevention Imbizo at the Kaizer Sebothelo Stadium in Botshabelo on 21 June 2013 as part of the Youth Month celebrations. An outcry from the community sparked intensified anti-gangsterism and crime prevention operations in Botshabelo.
The message was clear at an Imbizo called by the MEC for Police, Roads and Transport, Hon. Butana Komphela, and Provincial Commissioner of Police Lt-Gen. Kehla Sitole that community is sick and tired of the gun-toting and threatening behaviour of some individuals and government will make sure that Botshabelo is a safer place for all who live in it.
During the past months residents of Botshabelo were held ransom by so-called gang members who displayed extreme aggressive behaviour and allegedly attacked, killed, raped and robbed scores of people under a battle cry of “born to kill”.
In his opening statement, MEC Butana Komphela declared Botshabelo as a hot spot and government and police have a duty to safeguard the area and protect the people that live in it. ‘Gangsters don’t have place in our community and we want to stop these gangs on their tracks – that is why we declared Botshabelo as a hot spot,’ says MEC Komphela.
The community also had their say and indicated that, among other things, drugs, lack of sport facilities and unemployment are some of the contributors to the situation. The one gang that was named as notorious called Born to Kill (BTK) has been identified to be the one that menace the peace and stability of the community.
It was also suggested that, if the Police can search the schools at any given time, more of these gangs who are using drugs will be found because that is where they are alleged to hide drugs.
Not only Botshabelo has this problem of gangsters. Stories also filtered through from places like Meloding in Virginia where Makgomosha and Marastas are allegedly involved in recent times with the killing of several people.
‘It can never be correct to say people resort to crime as the results of unemployment,’ said Provincial commissioner, Lieutenant-General Sitole. He reiterated the fact that, since Botshabelo has been declared a hot spot, they are going to make sure that they use their powers to win this battle for safety and security of the community.
Other dignitaries including deputy Mayor of Mangaung Metro Municipality CLR. C Rampai and government officials from different Departments also attended the Imbizo with the aim to engage with the community and find solutions to fight all forms of crime and criminal behaviour in their neighbourhood.
Enquiries:
Zolile Walaza
Cell: 082 410 6516
Saki Mohono
Cell: 082 385 5600
