The North West MEC for the Department of Community Safety and Transport Management, Sello Lehari, led the anti-crime Imbizo in Tlhabane in Rustenburg, North West, on Friday, with the aim of strengthening the fight against crime.
The MEC said the high rate of crime committed in the area is worrying, especially the rising number of robberies, car hijackings, residential breakings, domestic violence and gender-based violence.
Lehari’s comments come in the light of the 4th Quarter Crime statistics showing that Rustenburg stands at number seven in the list of areas that have seen an increase in the rate of crime in the North West in the first three months of 2023.
Lehari said the number of sexual related crimes and incidents of child neglect and ill-treatment are on the increase and he implores communities to act responsibly and report all incidents that contravene any laws of the country.
Communities are also encouraged to engage the Civilian Secretariat Chief Directorate of the Department if they are unhappy with processes of cases reported.
Similar engagements are planned for Potchefstroom and Moretele in the next few weeks with other areas earmarked for the second half of the second quarter of the financial year.
However, some Tlhabane residents said they believe the Crime Imbizo will not help solve the problem. One of the residents, who wanted to remain anonymous, said the imbizo is a waste of taxpayers money and will not help the situation.
Tshegofatso Baleng, was scathing and said the imbizo is a waste because the focus is more on government departments and NGOs presenting their issues, their programs and interventions.
“This activity should be about us telling the MEC about our issues, so he can come up with solutions as to how we can curb the high rate of crime. The approach that is being used here today, for me it’s not going to work, citizens we’re on our own, you’ve to do your best to secure those around you,” stressed Baleng.
