Led by Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni of the Gauteng SAPS, Operation Shanela recently visited residents of the EP Malan informal settlement in Pomona, Kempton Park for a community imbizo.
Residents were given the opportunity to raise concerns about crime, living conditions (including water, toilets, electricity and roads) and other issues in the area.
When officers arrived to prepare for the incident, some community members ran away.
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A resident who identified himself as Price Shomtari said that the community members who ran away when they saw the police did so because they were immigrants and their papers were not in order.
Lt. Gen. Mosikili said it was the duty of foreign nationals to ensure that their papers were in order.
Duduzile Siko expressed concerns about prostitution in the area.
She said women of different ages sell their bodies in broad daylight and have sex on the streets, sometimes in front of children.
Another issue raised by the municipality was the availability of ambulances. According to residents, ambulances never come when called because there is no proper road infrastructure.
The widespread problem of gender-based violence also showed its ugly face during the Imbizo.
Nonhlanhla Nkwenyana expressed her concern about the ordeal she has experienced with gender-based violence, saying she feels helpless.
Another resident said that the area had a high crime rate and that no one was there when the police were called.
“The police just drive through an area and do not care about our complaints. The taverns in the area never respect the agreed closing times and stay open all night playing loud music,” the resident told the officers.
District councillors Marinda Buekes and Gerald Goslin promised to improve their communication with residents and also called on them to clean up their neighbourhood.
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They left their contact details with the residents and asked them to call them if they needed their help.
Mosikili urged citizens to report crimes, stressing that foreigners without residency papers would be arrested and corruption must be reported.
She added that lawlessness would not be tolerated and criminals must know that their time is running out.
She stressed that community engagement is crucial to promoting partnership policing.
