Siyabonga Sithole
The Kagiso community called on Police Minister Bheki Cele to bring a halt to the rampant crime and illegal mining in the area.
They spoke of the reign of terror in the area at a community imbizo in the Kagiso Sports Centre with the minister, his deputy, Cassel Mathale, national police commissioner Fannie Masemola and Public Safety MEC Faith Mazibuko
Nhlanhla Khanyile said they were fed up with the crime and illegal miners, and the Kagiso police station not effectively dealing with the crime.
"The Kagiso police station is failing us. As patrollers we saw a van parked for 30 minutes and called the police to investigate but they did not come and not long after a cash in transit robbery was reported.
“Our efforts were not taken seriously by the police. The police are not fit to deal with crime in this area,“ Khanyile said.
Karabo Mosethli, of the Choko Five Movement, said the illegal mining issue was is a time bomb and part of the solution was the rehabilitation of mines, which his movement had proposed.
"We proposed a law and order programme which has been delayed. The programme will help solve the issue of illegal mining and calls for rehabilitation of the mines.
“Our lives are in danger and our water is chemically contaminated which is why we call for the mayor to approve our proposal, which will benefit the community from rehabilitation of mines. We need industrial machines to rehabilitate the mines but our appointment letter has been revoked," Mosethli said.
Jabulile Ntuli, of Tshepisong, said they were tired of crime and illegal miners, adding that the community was battling as Tshepisong has no police station
"There is no development in Tshepisong. We call on (Gauteng Premier David) Makhura to help us with sport facilities for our children and we do not have a police station.
“Each week there are at least five dead people in Tshepisong, gun shootings everyday. Tshepisong has nothing yet it is one of the oldest townships in the area. Come to Tshepisong. We have too many problems in Tshepisong," she said.