Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC, Vusi Shongwe has called on community members to stop protecting criminals. Shongwe was speaking at Accornhoek on Saturday, 9 June 2012 when he was handing over a house to Gogo Mathebula who is a victim of rape.
Shongwe's concern comes as a result of a rape case that was withdrawn from court because there was insufficient evidence against a suspect who allegedly raped an erderly woman he is related to. MEC Shongwe said families should stop protecting criminals because in mostcases where a person was raped by a family member, there is always no one willing to come to the fore and assist the police in arresting and getting a conviction for the suspect.
"Community members need to work together with the police to fight crime, no case can be solved if there is no one willing to stand up and say I know the person who did this" the MEC said. The department made a commitment to assist the elderly during a Mandela Day Campaign when the police at Accornhoek told the department about the plight of the old lady.
At the time the old lady was staying in a mud house that has been broken into several times by criminals and the Accornhoek South African Police Service (SAPS) wanted to assist her but they did not have sufficient money to build her a proper house. Speaking at the hand over function cooperate affairs director of SAB, Dr. Vincent Maphai said he believes that the partnership between the department and SAB is bearing fruits as one victim has benefitted a house.
He said communities should assist the government to protect elderly people from criminal elements or any form of abuse because they are living ancestors. Maphai added that it was unAfrican for the elderly to be victimised but instead every community member would want to protect old people especially women.
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MEC calls for communities to stop protecting criminals
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