Mthatha residents protest increase in crime

An anti-crime march is under way in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape, organised by the African National Congress (ANC) in the OR Tambo region.

The aim is to highlight an increase in crimes including extortion, femicide and stock-theft in the town.

ANC regional secretary Vinny Tsita says they are also seeking to encourage victims of crime to open cases with police.

Tsita says society has low trust in police but urged them to report these types of crimes in order to be protected.

“We also wish that these police will not release their foot on the accelerator, they must make sure they flush this extortion thing out of our area. In our platform, we have been discussing the matter hoping that the relevant security cluster will deal with the mater.”

A resident of Mthatha, Sipho Faas says joint efforts between the community and the police can significantly decrease the town’s crime rate.

Marchers highlighted extortion, stock theft, gender-based violence, femicide and hijacking of government buildings as major crimes that the security cluster needs to accelerate intervention on.

Faas says the march will make a difference.

“Definitely this march is going to make a difference because crime is a big thing here in Mthatha, so definitely it will make a difference. It needs the community and police to work together, to give information where it is necessary so that crime can be stopped for good.”

The traditional sector has also taken part in the mass march.

Local chief Nkosi Mfundo Bhovulengwe from Bityi says he is hopeful that police intervention will also reach his area.

Bhovulengwe says, “The situation in Bityi is the same as the situation in town, these criminals are still there, stealing people’s livestock, taking money from shops, terrorising people. We hope General is not going to forget Bityi when the deployment from national government is taking place.”

 VIDEO | Communities in Mthatha, Eastern Cape to protest over escalating crime levels