As crime continues to plague communities across KwaZulu-Natal, Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli took a stand at a recent imbizo in KwaMashu, highlighting the achievements of the Inanda community in reducing crime.
Ntuli called for a collective effort to tackle the challenges faced by KwaMashu and its residents.
The crime-fighting imbizo was held at KwaMashu Indoor Sports Centre on Saturday, where Ntuli reiterated his call for community members, police, and crime-fighting organisations to collaborate to eradicate crime.
Ntuli was accompanied by eThekwini Municipality Deputy Mayor Zandile Myeni, Department of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs MEC Reverend Musa Zondi and police top brass.
Before the imbizo, Ntuli visited the KwaMashu Police Station. There, he was briefed on the crime statistics and the prevalent crimes affecting the community within the KwaMashu policing precinct. A comparison was drawn between this year’s figures and those from the same period last year.
“I would say that a person is humble if they look at the fact that the statistics show a decrease in crime in KwaMashu. But even if they have decreased, the numbers are still high,” Ntuli said.
“What we need to do is make every effort to work together now and come up with new strategies to help us overcome crime.”
Ntuli said that last year, he had an inspiring meeting in Inanda. He went there because Inanda had the highest crime figures in South Africa and he said they spoke to the community about eliminating crime, and while some were sceptical, however, they agreed that community-police collaboration was key.
He also shared an example of a community that successfully addressed rampant crime, including robberies, home invasions, murders, and abuse of women and children. He saw the Inanda community begin to implement similar actions.
“Therefore, we have to stand up now to say we don’t want criminals in this area,” Ntuli said.
“This fight against crime needs a real solution. It doesn’t need promises that make you salivate but have no effect in changing the crime situation in the area. They need to respect the wisdom of the residents of that area in bringing strategies and tactics to end crime in that area,” Ntuli said.
“There are many of us. There are a few criminals. We cannot be intimidated by a few people.”
He said he saw the Inanda community take up the issue after their conversation.
When he went back to Inanda recently, the Inanda SAPS station commander presented them with crime statistics that showed that crime and the number of people committing crimes in Inanda had decreased.
“I thanked the people of Inanda and said that ‘I knew that this was not done by the police alone, but rather by working with the police’,” Ntuli said.
Turning his focus to KwaMashu, Ntuli said criminals are a minority.
“Criminals are not even 5% of the population here in KwaMashu. There are a few. They just know we fear them as a community in KwaMashu. That is why they continue to commit crimes,” Ntuli said.
