Pretoria - More communities in KwaZulu-Natal are beginning to realise the importance of working closely with the police to fight against crime, says Health MEC, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo.
Speaking on behalf of Social Development MEC Weziwe Thusi during a crime awareness campaign at Utrecht outside Newcastle, on Sunday, MEC Dhlomo said the provincial government was pleased that the number of people who assisted the police to apprehend criminals was increasing exponentially.
“Gone are days when communities thought the fight against crime was the sole responsibility of the security agencies. Today we have communities, which play a huge role in exposing criminal activities which has led to criminals being arrested and successfully convicted.
“This is what we have been calling for as government for years and we are pleased that our people are beginning to realise the importance of community policing,” MEC Dhlomo said.
One of the recent high profile cases which was solved through community involvement include the arrest of four men who killed and mutilated a woman with albinism in Manguzi, northern KwaZulu-Natal.
MEC Dhlomo said the community involvement in the case was amazing.
“The community policing forum there worked well with the police in searching for Thandazile Mpunzi (deceased), when she disappeared until her body parts were found and the killers were arrested.”
“What the community of Manguzi did can also be done by other communities,” MEC Dhlomo said, adding that residents have to make it difficult for criminals to operate in their communities.
Social Development Head of Department, Nokuthula Khanyile, said the provincial government had introduced the crime victim empowerment programme after realising that addressing crime without making provision for the healing and rehabilitation of victims of crime was insufficient.
“The main aim of this programme is to facilitate the establishment and integration of inter-sectoral programmes for the support, protection and empowerment of victims of crime and violence,” said Khanyile. – SAnews.gov.za
