Police Minister Fikile Mbalula has appointed a new a station commander, while extra police officers will be deployed to Philippi, Western Cape.
The extra officers will include a team of specialist detectives, intelligence, high risk units such as the Tactical Response Team and National Intervention Unit members, who will keep a close watch on the troubled township.
This follows mass shooting incidents on the 25th and 29th of September in Marikana settlement, which resulted in 18 people being killed, with several others sustaining injuries.
Minister Mbalula, who visited the area on Tuesday, said he replaced the previous station commander, Colonel Vuyisile Payi, with Colonel Bongani Mthakathi because residents do not trust him.
“We came here to say, ‘we have heard you’. For far too long, our people die because of crime. For too long, we have seen and heard of cases of gender-based violence and the trio-crimes.”
The Minister said it is concerning to hear people complain about SAPS officials, who are suspects of criminal acts or failing to respond to their needs.
“We have acted and made arrests of our own police officers in other areas. We must also acknowledge that many of our police officers do their job and the few rotten apples amongst them betray the police badge,” Minister Mbalula said.
Before his engagement with the community, the Minister met with the families who lost their loved ones and passed condolences on behalf of government and the SAPS.
“We are here to be with you. You are not alone and the police will work together with other law enforcement agencies to bring those involved to account. Accept our sincere condolences from government and SAPS and the people of South Africa.”
He assured them that the police will work hard in bringing the perpetrators to book, while more will be done to restore order in their community. – SAnews.gov.za
