The MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Jackie Macie says the rampant crime affecting Dludluma area, is everybody’s business and everyone is at fault.
This was during the Stakeholder Engagement held on Friday, 12 July at the Dludluma Community Hall.
The area is situated on the border with Mozambique where serious cross border crime is on the rise.
This is including vehicles hijacked from all corners of the country and Dludluma, being the last village bordering Mozambique, is an easy passage for the criminals.
Most of these vehicles are hijacked from all corners of the country and Dludluma, being the last village bordering Mozambique, is an easy passage for the criminals.
It is alleged that they are also accommodated by local communities to hide the vehicles from the eagle eye of the SANDF and SAPS who are posted along the border, only to be released when ‘the coast is clear’ across to the neighbouring country.
Livestock which includes cattle, are also frequently stolen across the border despite the trenches that the Department of Public Works erected across the borderline as a preventative measure to halt the cross border crimes, all to no avail.
TACKLING CRIME:
During Macie’s first 100 days in office, he says he will ensure he clamps down on this particular crime and others, as has been pointed out by the local community.
“This engagement was solely organised for me to come and listen to your pleas and now I am going to act. Fortunately, my starting point is here in Nkomazi and I will notify you when we kickstart it, but I must warn you that I’ll leave no stone unturned as we tackle crime head-on and proceed to all areas in the province.”
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He added that the 1 200 Crime Wardens to be recruited to assist in fighting crime, applicants, including current CPF members, will be vetted and screened, it is only then that with a clean record, they can be included among the crime fighters.
“As we are all guilty as charged for the ongoing crime here, we must unify our efforts to totally eradicate it, once and for all,” he told the community.
