THE escalation of criminal activities in KZN is indicative of how wide the gap between communities and the police has become.
This was the sentiment of newly elected Chairperson of the KZN Community Policing Forum (CPF), Prince Mathenjwa.
In an exclusive interview with the Zululand Observer, Mathenjwa said his immediate priority was to bring together all relevant role players – the amakhosi, church leaders, business and civil society groups – to address the issue.
‘As part of the province’s crime combatting drive, it is imperative to strengthen relations with various stakeholders to intensify the crime fight.
‘We have started visiting iNkosi Ntuli and iNkosi Dlomo of Nkandla to listen to the concerns of the people, as that area is ravaged by faction fights which has extended to school violence. For example, a learner was stabbed at a bus stop while waiting for a bus.
‘We are also working closely with other law enforcement agencies such as the KZN Community Crime Prevention Association, also known as ‘Isikebhe.’
‘We will continue visiting all eleven regions in the province.’
Mathenjwa is also the Chairperson of the CPF King Cetshwayo Cluster, serving 12 police stations such as Nkandla, Khombe, Mbongolwana, eShowe, Gingindlovu, Mtunzini, Richards Bay, eSikhaleni, Empangeni, Melmoth, Ntambanana and Mbonambi.
He said he was particularly concerned about criminal activities being reported in eSikhaleni, Empangeni and Richards Bay.
‘It is a known fact that robbery, murder, drug abuse, car hijacking and rape cases are on the high in these areas.
‘The school violence is also a worrying factor. We also plan to visit all the schools in the district, including Richards Bay Secondary School to speak to learners about the importance of education.
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Report cases
‘We appeal to communities to report cases of domestic violence and child rape, even if the perpetrator is known to the family. We will not win the battle against crime if we hide perpetrators merely because they are family members.
‘We must discourage communities from taking the law into their own hands. We also want to serve as a vehicle to facilitate conflict between communities and municipalities.
‘As volunteers we further want to warn people to remain vigilant when using social networks, because criminal elements are involved there,’ Mathenjwa said.
Cannibalism
‘We are now confronted with a new challenge, people killing other human beings and admitting to have eaten their body parts. The community must stand up and fight this act of cannibalism.
‘We have seen terrible things happening in our land, but this is undoubtedly the most despicable of them all.
‘I remember that in the past a similar incident occurred in eSikhaleni. Little did we know that these acts were going to happen again, by our own brothers.
‘Whoever poisoned our people with this behaviour, whether it was an inyanga or sangoma, must be named and shamed. There is no muthi or luck that can be made out of human body parts,’ added Mathenjwa, who has served in the structures of the CPF since 1997.
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