CWAO IN THE NEWS

They invited authorities from the metro and SAPS to account for service delivery and crime concerns. The area is full of sewerage overflows.

However, metro officials failed them and did not honour the invitation. SAPS Putfontein officials managed to be part of the meeting to attend to the concerns.

“When someone is shot at night, police will only arrive the next morning. We are indeed alerting the police should there be any crime. In most cases police will say there is a van already in that area but when we follow up, we get asked to be patient since there is a shortage of vans. If there are shootings involved, we are told to collect cartridges ourselves which does not make sense” said one of the residents who would like to remain anonymous.

Another resident said “Taverns and shebeens are operating day and night with loud music while criminals break into our houses here in extension 9. We are struggling to understand if police are patrolling the area or if they only come when there is a complaint? If that is the case why then is the police van always going to such taverns at night but failing to enforce the law?” the resident said.

Mayfield resident Lumka Mkhize who is 44 years old said “there is crime in our area and police are failing us. In essence that when you report a case it vanishes into thin air”. She added that scrapyards buy stolen goods from the Nyaope boys (drug addicts). Although the police chase those who steal cables and vandalise infrastructure, no suspects have ever appeared in court. “I’m not sure if police have a place to keep that copper confiscated or if there is a buy back zone for the police and the scrap yards. In my view there should be cooperation between traffic wardens and SAPS”, concluded Lumka.

Another resident, Zola Mbewu said the police must equip patrollers to fight crime and consider better approaches. “Drug use and gangsterism is totally out of control and police are doing nothing. At the transformer next to Mayfield Park, criminals hide stolen goods there. We appeal to authorities to beef up security in the area and the city of Ekurhuleni to swallow their pride and provide services especially sewerage blockings, we are not safe at all”.

By Thymer (Simunye Workers Forum - SWF media activist)
Photos by Lawrence Madonsela (Simunye Workers Forum - SWF media activist)

Category: THE NEW WORKER | NEWS