Pretoria - Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa says police in Mbekweni, near Paarl in the Western Cape need to intensify their operations and shut down illegally-operating shebeens in the area.
Speaking during a community engagement at the Mbekweni Sports Centre on Wednesday, Mthethwa said the partnership between the police and the community was crucial in reducing crime.
"To this end, parents must be closely involved in their children's' upbringing and social interactions whereas police need to intensify operations and shut all the illegally-operating shebeens," he said.
His sentiments were echoed by acting National Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi who said: "We must serve the communities the way they need to be served. Shebeens that are illegally-operating must be shut down and as the community you must not support them. From our side as the police, we will intensify operations to close them."
The meeting follows a visit by Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe and the minister to the area last month, where residents raised issues around policing.
"We are not here by mistake, but by desire... I promised that I will be back to engage with you, I have kept my promise. This engagement is about listening to your safety concerns so that together we must find solutions to improve service delivery. This in turn will strengthen community-police relations in fight against crime," said the minister.
Residents raised serious allegations and complaints against Mbekweni police officers, including slow response times as well as shifting responsibility when the community comes to report cases. They also said the crime rate had increased and that can be attributed to the bad attitude by police.
Community members further accused some police of serving through favouritism, that police ignore illegally-operating shebeens and that these have led to a proliferation of crime. They also alleged that some police officers utilise police vehicles to give their partners lifts.
In responding, Mthethwa said the community's safety cannot and must not be compromised by lazy police officers.
"What I am saying to the police is that a police station or a station commander who does not deliver must be fired. We are convinced that as communities present here this afternoon, you are not just making wild allegations, these are real stories affecting you.
"There are lots of things that you have raised today, but I want to emphasize that we will follow up each allegation and those found responsible, we shall act. Police resources are not [to be] used to buy groceries or to give boyfriends and girlfriends lifts, if you notice such practices, please report them," he said.
Mthethwa used the platform to remind residents about the Second-Hand Goods Act which will come into effect on 1 April 2012.
The Act stipulates that any person who buys stolen goods is as guilty as the person who stole the goods and harsher sentences will apply to both the buyer and the thief.
He urged the Mbekweni community to refrain from buying stolen goods and to report such practices to police.
