The Community of Wesselton in Ermelo, Mpumalanga have called on the Mpumalanga Provincial government to capacitate the local police Station in Ermelo during the Crime Prevention Imbizo. The community claim that the police station is unable to deal with the crime affecting them since it lacks resources and it makes the police officers vulnerable to crime.
Ermelo has seen sporadic criminal activities which prompted the provincial government to call for a Crime Prevention Imbizo to have a dialogue with the residents on how to end the crime. The residents say a shortage of police vans and resources hampers police officers to work effectively.
Residents raised concerns over the lack of policing in Ermelo to curb the high crime rate. They claim that the common crime here range from house breakings, rape and murder- which has been happening over the years. The residents claim that the police station in the area is unable to fight the scourge of crime because it lacks resources. The residents say crime is rife in this area especial in the mines that are not used.
Drop in contact crimes
Mpumalanga recorded a decreased in all contact crimes such as sexual offences, attempted murder and common robbery. The province recorded 2,5 % decrease in murder cases. This was announced by Minister of Police when announcing the crime statistics last week. Chairperson of the Ermelo Community Policing Forum Rafayel Mthethwa says enough is enough with the crime in this town.
“Ermelo has been engulfed by gangsterism the killing of young boys is happening like is our daily bread that’s why we here today as the as community as the CPF to say you know enough is enough. We don’t want to deal with this killing young men issues the gangsterism that is happening around town that’s why we joined hands with the SAPS we joined hands with the MEC to back up the MEC to say in the community of Ermelo this thing of gangsterism must come to an end”, says Mthethwa.
Meanwhile, Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Vusi Shongwe says the community needs to work together with the police to fight crime in this community…
“The gangsterism that is here terrorising the community. There are rape cases so we taught let us come and mobilise the community, so this involvement of the people the residents of this area it would go a long way because this gangsterism are not coming from heaven”, MEC Shongwe.
