CAPE TOWN - Police Minister Bheki Cele on Monday promised disgruntled residents of Philippi East in Cape Town that proper interventions will be made to address policing in the area which has hit news headlines following the murders of 13 people at the weekend.
"I’m saying that we will need five days to look at your memorandum and address your grievances but will be acting on catching the criminals.
"I heard that you want a station commander since the current commander is away on sick leave, I therefore hope that when we place a permanent station commander things will become better,” Cele said.
“Tomorrow we will have a meeting for security cluster, and I promise you that after the meeting, there will be a change that you will see in the community.
"I won’t tell you what the change is gonna be, but you as the people will see that there is a change and that is after 24 hours,” Cele added.
Video: David Ritchie/African News Agency(ANA).
Cele addressed about 200 residents at the Philippi East community hall during his visit to the area.
Community members welcome the police minister and his contingent of staff. Picture: David Ritchie/African News Agency(ANA)
The visits follow the killing of 13 people who were shot and killed since Friday.
Police were alerted at about 11pm on Friday night to the discovery of six bodies of women between the ages of 18 and 26 at a home in Marcus Garvey. The women were shot dead by unknown suspects, police spokesperson FC van Wyk said in a statement on Sunday.
Video: David Ritchie/African News Agency(ANA).
"The motive for the murders is unknown at this stage. The circumstances surrounding the incident are being investigated and more information cannot be released at this stage," he said.
On Saturday night, in two separate shooting incidents, five men aged between 18 and 39 were shot dead and another was wounded. "The motive for these shooting incidents remains the subject of an intensive police investigation," Van Wyk said.
Video: David Ritchie/African News Agency(ANA).
"From an investigation perspective, detectives with crime intelligence are hard at work following leads that could result in the arrest of the perpetrators of these incidents," he said.
Meanwhile, community members with any information about the shootings were urged to contact the investigating officer Warrant Officer Larry Arnoldus 079-880-9822 or Crime Stop on 08600-10111. All information received would be treated with the confidentiality required.
Video: David Ritchie/African News Agency(ANA).
"Western Cape police undertake to ensure that the perpetrators are arrested and safety as well as calm restored in the area. A further appeal is made to community members to remain calm and allow the police to apprehend those involved," Van Wyk said.
Community Safety MEC Albert Fritz condemned killings. “I commend the SAPS on their urgent response to the murders that took place in Philippi. They have launched a 72-hour action plan in response to the killings. The plan entails a lock-down and operations in the area that are conducted by public order police, the K9 Unit and Flying Squad members. In this regard, the Western Cape Government will continue to work closely with SAPS, and continue to provide the necessary oversight,” he said.
“I further commend the community who gathered in protest at the Philippi East Police Station, calling for police management to intervene and reduce violent crime. We all need to be a part of the conversation on safety in our communities and show that we will not support gangsterism and criminality. The many good people of our province cannot live in perpetual fear of a few,” Fritz added.