Today, the Democratic Alliance (DA) councillors, DA Constituency Head, Joe McGluwa, DA activists and community members marched to the Stilfontein SAPS station against the increasing crime in the area. Please see photos here, here, and here.
For too long residents of Stilfontein have felt unsafe and vulnerable to the increasing criminal activities in their area which is due to a lack of resources and training the police have offered little help to keep the community safe.
Residents raised the following concerns:
1)Lack of police visibility in the area.
2)With a seeming lack of resources at the station, we have complainants who call the police station and are told that there are no police vans or police vans are on patrol and they never get attended to.
3)The Stilfontein area is plagued by housebreakings which the police never attend to, it is the neighbourhood watch that does so.
4)There is an increase in drug dealings, the police never follow up on tips by community members on drug dealings.
5)There is no proper regulation of pubs within the area, this is in reference to Blue Moon Pub. The customers are disruptive, do not adhere to parking regulations, after closing the pub customers continue playing loud music throughout the night. There is no social distancing and the mask policy is not followed.
6)Some taverns and pubs operate illegally, and instead of shutting them down the police demand bribes to look the other way.
7)Empty houses are illegally occupied by Zama Zama’s, we are also aware of police officers who are on the Zama Zama’s payroll. As a result of these illegal occupations, electric cables are constantly stolen and infrastructure is damaged.
8)There is an increase in illegal firearms, people’s safety is threatened by constant gunshots.
9)There is no inspection or any oversight at scrapyards and there is no sign-off of on second-hand goods being sold to and from the scrapyard places.
The DA handed in a memorandum of demands to the Stilfontein Station Commissioner, Matlhoko John Selehlelo, requesting that adequate resources such as police vehicles be made available to support police officers in their work.
We also requested that more police officers be deployed to the station and for them to receive extended training to assist them in combatting criminal activities.
The SAPS promised that they will respond to the DA’s demands and ensure that action is taken to improve policing in the area.
The people of Stilfontein deserve to live in a safe community without the fear of criminals causing them harm. The DA is ready to bring real change through an effective police force that well-trained and resourced, we encourage residents to go out on 27 October 2021 and exercise the Constitutional right by voting for change.