Eastern Cape MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison, Mrs Weziwe Tikana-Gxothiwe accompanied by Department of Safety and Liaison, HoD Mr Vuyani Mapolisa and Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Liziwe Ntshinga, local municipality and local chiefs converged at Katkop for the Community Safety Summit on 18 November 2020.
Mr Rhalo, from Department of Safety and Liaison gave an overview on the purpose of day.
“This meeting is the response to the oversight visit that was undertaken by the Portfolio Committee. MEC is accompanied by the Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner to respond to pleads of Tsitsana Community. Through this engagement, Department of Safety and Liaison is striving to take the fight against crime and violence to where it belongs to, community members”, he said.
Speakers from various departments delivered their messages of support in the fight against crime.
Earlier in the day, different commissions converged and identified possible threats to safety and security. Feedback from the commissions was delivered by Ms Mtshakazana.
The following threats were identified:
Substance Abuse,
Leaking of information by the members of the SAPS,
Increase on organized crime, Stock Theft and community resistance to forward information to the police,
Shortage of SAPS members/lack of resources especially vehicles, distance from police stations to villages and poor road infrastructure leading to delayed responses by SAPS members when responding to reported incidents,
Liquor outlets not complying to regulations resulting to increased crime and some close to schools,
Gender-based Violence and Femicide,
Service Delivery Protests,
Child-headed households and
Law Enforcement members collaborating with criminals
Possible solutions and responsible Departments were identified to resolve the identified threats.
Lieutenant General Ntshinga gave an overview on crime in Katkop and touched on all the threats that were already identified by the commissions.
“I was shocked that there are so many structures in this area, yet all the solutions to the challenges cannot be solved by these very structures”, she said.
“Today we have brought you a mobile police station which will be stationed at Tsitsana Great Place together with a police van, specifically for this area”, she concluded.
MEC Tikana-Gxothiwe delivered the keynote address. “Yesterday we launched the Safer Festive Season Operations 2020/2021 at Matatiele. We are continuing with Safety Month programs which we took a decision to move from February to November”, she said.
“Law abiding citizens should be in the forefront of crime fighting in our villages. Police alone cannot fight crime as crime fighting is a collective effort”, she added.
She concluded by giving assurance that the Government will continue to work together with the communities, but “we urge you to also work with us.”
The summit was concluded by the handing over of the mobile police station and a police van to the Lowe Tsitsana community in an effort to bring service closer since the closest station is far away distance.