Committee calls for an end to organised criminal gangs terrorizing residents
The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety has called on the MEC for Community Safety, Honorable Faith Mazibuko and Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Elias Mawela to appear before the committee to give a detailed account on how they are dealing with the scourge of organized criminal gangs in the Province.
This is an effort to eradicate the existence violent activities perpetuated by these gang in communities. It comes after a number of community members marched to their nearest police stations to complain about organized criminal gangs terrorizing residents.
Both the MEC and Police Commissioner will appear before the Committee through a virtual committee meeting on Friday, 12 March 2021 at 10h00.
Over a week ago, residents of Atteridgeville marched to their police station to hand over a memorandum in protest of crime in their community. Though the Committee strongly condemns the approach taken by the community of Atteridgeville by burning tyres and blocking roads during their protest, the Committee feels that members of the community were raising legitimate concerns.
The Committee is also concerned about media reports of organized criminal gangs in Mamelodi which have been for years instilling fear in the community. The Committee has learned of 3 notorious gangs called Boko Haram, Farasai and Al Qaeda which are alleged to be operating in Mamelodi. It is alleged that these organized criminal gangs specialize in business extortion, hijackings, murder and drugs.
The increasing number of media reports around gang related activities especially in Mamelodi suggests that more needs to be done to fight the scourge.
The Committee is of the view that the terror caused by these gangs has no place in society and that Law Enforcement Agencies must develop gang targeted strategies aimed at dismantling every opportunity that allows them to prevail in communities. It is for this reason that the Committee feels that the police must give an account on their strategies to deal with gang related activities in order to allow Members of the Committee to interrogate the effectiveness of these strategies and provide appropriate recommendations where necessary.
The Committee also feels that members of communities must play an active role as part of joint intervention strategies aimed at creating gang and crime free communities by reporting gang related activities. Law Enforcement Authorities should demonstrate and value this form of partnership by prioritizing the protection of those reporting these crimes. This will lead to a more structured and coordinated approach of fighting gangsterism in Gauteng thus creating a Province where every resident is and feels safe.
Proceedings of the meeting can be streamed live on https://youtu.be/BU65Gk9D4bw or https://fb.me/e/3MzMCp2wS
Enquiries:
Thebe Khumalo
Cell: on 072 266 1021
E-mail: TKhumalo@gpl.gov.za
