PIENAAR – MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Jackie Macie has vowed to reclaim Pienaar from crime following growing safety concerns in the township.
Macie made the commitment during a stakeholder engagement last Friday, where residents voiced their frustrations over escalating crime in the area and called for immediate intervention. Addressing the gathering, he said the situation in the township could no longer be ignored and required urgent, coordinated action from both government and the community.
“We have gathered here because the crime situation confronting the people of Pienaar demands urgent, coordinated and decisive action. This is not a ceremonial meeting and it cannot become another talk show. It must mark the beginning of a disciplined partnership between government and the people to reclaim this community from violence, fear and criminal control,” he said.
The intervention comes as Pienaar Police Station has been identified as one of Mpumalanga’s top 30 police stations for community-reported serious crimes. Macie said the station would be prioritised under the Police Ministry’s Reset Agenda to strengthen police visibility, crime intelligence, detective services and operations against organised crime.
For many residents, however, the high crime rate has already had a devastating impact on their lives, with sexual violence emerging as one of the community’s greatest concerns.
A 29-year-old mother told Mpumalanga Mirror that her two-year-old daughter was sexually assaulted in 2022, but the case has still not been resolved, leaving her with unanswered questions.
“It’s heartbreaking because, to this day, the perpetrator is still walking freely in our community. I just want justice for my child,” she said.
READ | Rape cases-most problematic in the province
Her experience echoed concerns raised by Mduduzi Mnisi, chairperson of the Zone B Safety Stakeholders, who said residents continued to grapple with housebreakings, car hijackings, gangsterism, extortion and other violent crimes. Resident, Micha Nhleko, welcomed the government’s intervention, but said the community wanted to see action rather than hear promises.
“We are grateful that they came to listen to our concerns, but we need more police visibility,” he said.
Some residents also claimed they had lost trust in the police, alleging that certain officers were working with criminals. Macie said the allegations would be investigated and dealt with decisively.
“An officer who abandons the constitution and assists criminals, ceases to be a protector and becomes part of the criminal threat,” he said. The MEC urged residents to report crime, refuse to harbour offenders and work with the police to reclaim their community.
