An anti-crime march is underway in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape, organized 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 the police but urges them to report these types of crimes to be protected.
“We hope the police will not ease up on their efforts and will work to eliminate extortion from our area. On our platform, we have been discussing this issue, and we hope the relevant security authorities will address it. Sipho Faas, a resident of Mthatha, believes that collaborative efforts between the community and the police can greatly reduce 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.
“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 also participated 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, and terrorizing people. We hope the General will not forget Bityi when the deployment from the national government is taking place.”
