re nws march Brigadier Lindiwe Dyantyi has urged the community of Gugulethu to be honest when dealing with crime.
Image: Phiri Cawe
re nws march Gugulethu crime fighters held a crime roadshow to highlight challenges they have.
Image: Phiri Cawe
Gugulethu crime fighters took to the streets to create awareness around crimes like extortion, rape, gender-based violence, burglaries and substance abuse.
Religious leaders, police, neighbourhood watches and the Community Policing Forums (CPFs) took the anti-crime roadshow, on Wednesday March 26, to venues in the four sectors of Gugulethu; Barcelona, KTC, Shell Garage (NY3A), Lucas Mmbembe, ending at Gugulethu Mall.
The roadshow was organised by Gugulethu police due a steep increase in crime, especially violent gender-based crimes, and people being reluctant to report perpetrators. Speakers encouraged the community to speak out and work with the police if they were concerned about crime.
Brigadier Lindiwe Dyantyi urged community members to be honest about crime.
“It is time for the community to stand up and fight criminals with the police, but people need to be honest and truthful to defeat crime. It is up to us to create a better society before crime swallows us all. If you look at our neighbourhoods, crime is winning the streets. Let us stand up so we can take back our streets and homes,” she encouraged.
The Brigadier cautioned residents not to take the law into their own hands.
“We have a challenge with incidents of mob justice, and we do not encourage that. We also have a huge challenge with gender-based violence in Gugulethu. Please report to the police before people die. As police, we will play our role, and the community must play theirs, too. We promise to work together with the community,” she said.
The City of Cape Town Safety and Security member, Mzwakhe Nqavashe, also encouraged the community to work with the police. Mr Nqavashe called on people to join CPFs and neighbourhood watches.
“The police alone cannot defeat crime. Crime prevention needs all of us. We encourage people to join the community structures and work with the police to report crime," he said.
CPF chairperson Deon Makiti said criminals are taking over the streets, and crime is becoming a norm, so people must stand up. He said crime-fighters marched because people were tired of criminals. He said that if people are not awake and vigilant, criminals would infiltrate schools.
“I have heard people saying they are scared to report crimes like extortion, but for it to stop, we have to report it. Let us play our part and fight criminal activities,” he said.
Ward councillor Thembinkosi Mjuza called on the government to install cameras. He also suggested that the community do random patrols.
“It should not only be neighbourhood watches who do patrols. They cannot apprehend criminals but can alert the police. Let us invest by buying them radios. Let us make sure that our sectors are active. The government should also put cameras all around Guguethu," said Mr Mjuza.
Some of the stakeholders that attended were the Spiritual Crime Prevention, pastors and many local non-governmental organisations.