Stop vigilante killings
I condemn in the strongest possible terms the vigilante killings which happened close to the Heideveld train station in Gugulethu yesterday, less than a month since the last vigilante killings occurred in Lwandle.
I call on all communities in the Western Cape to help the authorities in identifying the perpetrators of these heinous crimes and to calm our community members before they commit crimes.
Stop vigilante killings.
No matter what the circumstances or allegations, we cannot allow our communities to take the law into their own hands.
Vigilantism is a crime and it will not be tolerated by law enforcement agencies. Anyone involved in any incident of vigilante killings becomes a criminal themselves.
Various alternatives exist to taking the law into your own hands, regardless of whether the alleged criminals were indeed guilty of crimes or not.
It is important to remember that all crimes have to be reported to the nearest police station for investigation. Communities should partner with the police and law enforcement authorities to help create safer environments.
Where communities feel they do not receive the necessary safety service delivery, they should report it to either:
- The Neighbourhood Watch or Community Policing Forum for escalation;
- The Office of the Western Cape Provincial Police Ombudsman;
- The Department of Community Safety by lodging a complaint at 021 483 4332 or via email at policing.complaints@westerncape.gov.za or safer@westerncape.gov.za.
Media enquiries:
Spokesperson for Minister Plato
Ewald Botha
Cell: 079 694 1113
