The Community of Swartruggens, outside Rustenburg, North West, took their grievances to the streets on Wednesday in protest against poor service delivery from the local Municipality and the local SAPS.
The protesters have alleged that whenever crime is reported to Swartruggens Police Station, the suspects are tipped off and then the police launch unsuccessful raids.
Community leader Rammpudu Mooketsi alleged that in cases where suspects are arrested with overwhelming evidence, the cases are sabotaged resulting in court dismissals because of insufficient evidence.
“The community is further perturbed by the incident of rape of a 16-year-old girl who was raped in front of her elder sister and other siblings in 2021 by someone known to the victim, her family and witnesses.
“The incident was reported to the police and the perpetrator is still walking the street while the victim and family are living with trauma and fear,“ Mooketsi has alleged.
He further accused the Mayor of Kgetleng Municipality of failing to run an efficient office that would deliver needed services to the community.
“Recently we have witnessed attachment of all municipal vehicles by the sheriff including the banking accounts due non payment of creditors. Currently the Municipality has over 18 judgments amounting to over R5 million”.
The Community handed over their memorandum of demands to the Swartruggens Police Station and to the office of Cogta on Wednesday.
In response, Colonel Tabane Moagi said the Bojanala cluster doesn’t take memorandum’s lightly and has promised that they’ll attend to urgent issues immediately while those which are long term will be dealt with at a later stage.
Floyd Makhene, from Cogta received the memorandum on behalf of MEC Nono Maloyi, and assured the protestors that an investigation will be conducted to get to the root of the problem, and that action will be taken.
