Electricity cable thieves (izinyoka) who torment communities need to be aggressively hunted, arrested and thrown in jail. Their selfish acts not only place the lives innocent law-abiding citizens in danger, but also contribute to increases in crime. This is a distressing reality facing the community of Thembalethu, outside George.
This community shared their accomplishments in the fight against crime as well as some of the frustrations with police with the Minister of Police Nathi Mthethwa, during a community participation meeting held at the local community hall last night.
The local police management, community policing forums (CPF) structures, ward councillors and residents informed the Minister that cutting off the cables from the streets, leads to increase in crime. In turn it poses a serious challenge for the police to apprehend these criminals without proper street lights. He appealed to communities to refrain from buying these stolen cables. The community responded by committing themselves to foster the partnerships with police in fighting this trend as well as other criminals acts affecting them.
“When criminals steal these cables they do not take them to the bushes or rivers, they sell them back to society. In turn because there is a financial market for these cables, crime is bound to be on the increase. Unless we take a stance as communities to report these izinyokas to police, we will always be giving these criminals’ empires space to grow,” stated the Minister.
“We need to begin to instil consciousness in our society to be intolerant to these izinyoka. By the way if communities buy cables from these izinyoka, you automatically become inyoka. Our police-led operations supported by this community need to pay attention to this issue as a matter of urgency.”
Some of the major challenges facing this community include escalating rape incidents, domestic violence, residential break-ins, common robberies, non functional street lighting and street numbering. The other major challenges facing this community is an increase in unlicensed liquor operators coupled with usage of drugs.
Local police management highlighted that these taverns are a major contributor to escalation of crime, drug-usage especially by under-age children. However through an effective partnership between police and a group of local volunteers, known as Bambanani, crime in the area has marginally decreased. “This community’s decision to not sit on the sidelines and throw criticisms at police, but actively join the police in fighting crime, is commendable,” added the Minister.
“Our presence this evening is no different to the communities we have engaged. What informs our approach during these discussions, is not to come as experts who know better than you. We see you as equal partners in our quest of creating safer communities. It is through such dialogue followed by practical actions that we can defeat the scourge of crime.”
Through these community engagements, the Ministry has derived valuable and positive lessons as these are real issues, with no distortions of facts. More importantly Minister Mthethwa emphasised the importance of putting deadlines to be adhered to on all the issues raised. In the next coming weeks, the Ministry officials will follow up on progress from the relevant authorities tasked with resolving these issues.
For enquiries, please contact:
Zweli Mnisi, Ministerial Spokesperson
Tel: 082 045 4024
Issued by: Ministry of Police
26 February 2010
