Road Safety Blog

MEC Kaunda vows to clamp down on crime in Hammarsdale

jonckie

The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Mxolisi Kaunda has called for a strong collaboration between the community of Georgedale in Hammarsdale, outside Durban and the police to defeat the scourge of crime in the area.

Kaunda was addressing stakeholders including crime fighting structures in the community following an increase of murders in the area on Friday, 1 February 2019.

Members of the community, led by the local councillor met with the MEC yesterday to raise concern about high-level of crime in the area, which has resulted in 11 murders since October 2018 to January 2019.

Community members have indicated that among the causes of the sharp increase in crime in the area was the proliferation of drugs and illegal firearms.

Before the stakeholders meeting, Kaunda received a briefing from the local police station management on the progress made in apprehending suspects implicated in murders and drug trafficking in the area.

Among the interventions Kaunda announced in the area include intensifying law enforcement operations in the area to recover illegal firearms and drugs. “However, police alone will not be able to win this battle against crime. Therefore, collaboration between members of the community and the police is critical,” said Kaunda.

The MEC also committed the department to assist members of the community to create street committees which are going to be instrumental in identifying rogue elements at a street level.

“Street committees have proven to be effective in helping communities to know their neighbours,” said Kaunda.

To clamp down on drug dealers and murderers, Kaunda said that he has spoken to the provincial police management to assign a dedicated team to Hammarsdale to profile and arrest suspects implicated in such crimes. The task team will also assist in identifying police officers who are colluding with criminals in the area.

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