Crime can only be won if communities expose criminals living in their midst, this is according to Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC, Vusi Shongwe.
Shongwe was speaking during a Prayer Day organised by Calcutta Police precinct that was held at Marite in Bushbuckridge on Saturday, 18 May 2013.
The Prayer Day, which was coordinated with stakeholders such as the Department of Social Development, Bushbuckridge Municipality and local Community Police Forum (CPF), was aimed at praying for an end to criminality in the area.
Shongwe was earlier briefed by the stakeholders that Marite was leading in crime in the Calcutta Policing precinct and that rape was one of the priority crimes.
Shongwe has called on community members not to be afraid of exposing criminals especially those who abuse women and children.
He said the tendency by some families to resolve abuse cases without the involvement of law enforcement agencies needs to be discouraged because more often than not the needs of the victims are not taken into consideration. He said those who perpetuate women and child abuse must be reported at all times.
Shongwe said that the communities need to go back to the principles of Ubuntu and assist government to build morally sound societies where abuse of women and children would not be tolerated. He also said police cannot be viewed as the only solution to crime when perpetrators live in communities.
The MEC has also called on parents to always ensure that they know the whereabouts of their children at all times. He said some young people also go to liquor trading outlets not having money to buy themselves drinks and this exposes them to sugar daddies who would buy drinks in exchange for sexual favours.
According to Shongwe others resort to violence when those favours are not granted. This, the MEC said could be avoided if parents are not abdicating their responsibilities to teachers or the police.
He has also called on men to stop spending too much time in liquor outlets because sometimes criminals take advantage of their absence in their homes and pounce on women and children who are often left at home alone.
“It is about time that men actively participate in securing their families and not spend too much time at taverns,” Shongwe said.
Speaking at the same event Calcutta CPF Chairperson, Mr Hikos Mokoena called on the community to assist in CPF crime prevention programmes in the area.
Mokoena has also called on the department to assist the CPFs with tools such as reflector jackets and torches that they would use when they are conducting patrols.
Enquiries:
Joseph Mabuza
Tel: 013 766 4055
Cell: 082 678 1450
