Community-police partnership crucial in the reducing crime in Mbekweni
The community, supported by the police, need to strengthen cooperation to reduce crime in Mbekweni, particularly in waging war against illegally-operating local shebeens, which give rise to substance abuse and alcoholism amongst young people. To this end, parents must be closely involved in their children’s’ upbringing social interactions whereas police need to intensify operations and shut all the illegally-operating shebeens.
These were the sentiments of the Minister of Police, Nathi Mthethwa when speaking during a community engagement held at the Mbekweni Sports Centre, outside Paarl in the Western Cape this afternoon. Today’s engagement is a follow up to Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe’s visit to the area last month, where he was accompanied by various Ministers including Minister Mthethwa and amongst the issues raised at the time, were around policing.
“We are not here this afternoon by mistake but by desire; because I promised that I will be back to engage with you, I have kept my promise. This engagement is about listening to your safety concerns so that together we must find solutions to improve service delivery. This in turn will strengthen community-police relations in fight against crime.”
The residents raised serious allegations and complaints against Mbekweni police officers, including slow response time as well as shifting responsibility when the community comes to report cases. They stated that crime rate has increased and that can be attributed to the bad attitude by police. They further accused some of the police of serving through favoritism, that police ignore illegally-operating shebeens and that these have led to proliferation of crime.
Furthermore, that some police officers utilise vehicles to give boyfriends and girlfriends lifts and abuse of such resources is rampant.
In response, Minister Mthethwa emphasised that the community’s safety cannot and must not be compromised by lazy police officers. “What I am saying to the police is that a police station or a station commander who does not deliver must be fired. We are convinced that as communities present here this afternoon, you are not just making wild allegations, these are real stories affecting you.
There are lots of things that you have raised today, but I want to emphasize that we will follow up each allegation and those found responsible, we shall act. Police resources are not used to buy groceries or to give boyfriends and girlfriends lifts, if you notice such practices, please report them,” added the Minister.
The Minister, accompanied by the Acting National Commissioner of Police, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, the SAPS Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Arno Lamoer as well senior police management, stressed that they are not here to talk, but expects more action after this meeting. “As the police leadership accompanied by management present here, we are humbled to meet and engage with you today, so that together we can find common solutions to challenges facing the community of Mbekweni. But I want to stress that I do not want us to talk about one thing over and over again, I want to see action.”
Commenting on some of issues raised by the community, General Mkhwanazi urged the community to partner with the police in fighting crime, particularly as police mount operations aimed at closing down illegal shebeens. He tasked General Lamoer to urgently pay attention to all the allegations of slow service delivery by the local police. “We will follow up on these allegations; we must serve the communities the way they need to be served. Shebeens that are illegally-operating must be shut down and as the community you must not support them. From our side as the police, we will intensify operations to close them.
It is evident that when it comes to crime in Mbekweni, many of the criminals who terrorise the community are known to the community. There is also a lot of frustration amongst some of the residents about the ability of these criminals who continue to harass and attack residents; and the subsequent impression nothing is being done by the police. The first step in ensuring the arrest of these criminals is for members of society to report the heartless criminals to police.
Minister Mthethwa also used the occasion to remind the community about the Second-Hand Goods Act, 2009 (Act No 6 of 2009) which will come into effect on 1 April 2012. The Act stipulates that any person who buys a stolen good is as guilty as the person who stole the goods, and harsher sentences will apply to both the buyer and the thief. He urged the Mbekweni community to refrain from buying stolen goods and to report such practices to police.
He stressed that the days of police of taking hours to respond to victims of crime in Mbekweni must end. “The days of police saying we have insufficient vehicles must end now. In taking the fight to the criminals, the communities of Mbekweni partnership with police have a duty to reclaim our streets. We require no permission from criminals to walk tall in our streets,” he stated.
These enforcements form part of our new approach in fighting crime. Mbekweni community’s decision to not sit on the sidelines, but actively join the police is fighting crime, is commendable. We hope that in the coming months when we interact with this community, we look forward to receiving positive progress on how crime in the area has been reduced.
The Minister concluded that all the issues raised will be followed up and he will personally hold management accountable to ensure that each complaint is speedily addressed. As part of the monitoring of the service delivery, the Minister will amongst others, conduct unannounced visits at police stations across the country.
For enquiries, please contact:
Zweli Mnisi
Cell: 082 045 4024
