Angry residents of Ekangala in Tshwane protested outside their local police station on Friday to demand the release of their leader known as Nongoloza.
“We want Nongoloza out now, and if they arrest him then they must arrest all of us who are members of the crime prevention unit in Ekangala, we are sick and tired of police who don’t help the community but instead blame us when we take measures to prevent crime in the area,” said one of the residents in a message sent to Tshwane Talks.
A member of the local crime prevention unit Mogau Ramaila told Tshwane Talks that they were protesting outside the Ekangala Police Station because they as members of the community were being persecuted by the police and criminals, because criminals hunt them down with axes and steal property in the area which they hide in their shacks, and when they as crime prevention unit members confront those criminals police protect them (criminals).
“At the moment those criminals have opened cases of assault against us and police have already taken action against us, yet many of us were forced to run away after being attacked by these criminals who were wielding guns and axes, yet the police didn’t take measures to protect us,” lamented Ramaila.
“The police have arrested Nongoloza for allegedly breaking down the door of the shack of those criminals, but the truth is those criminals are the ones who broke down the said door themselves,” she said.
“It is frustrating that as victims of crime the police don’t come when we call them, but when those criminals phone the police, they come running immediately to arrest us,” she said.
Ramaila said it was evident that some police take the side of criminals because when they report cases to the police their cases get squashed.
“We found stolen goods like couches, mattresses, blankets and sponges at the shack of those criminals, and they confessed that indeed they are the ones who have stolen the said goods, yet the police have not acted on the matter, but are instead acting against us,” she said.
“Police are actually against the existence of a crime prevention unit which protects local residents of Ekangala, they don’t do their job and when the crime prevention unit steps in to prevent crime, the police get angry about that,” said one of the protesting ladies who chose to remain anonymous.
She said they as residents of Ekangala won’t tolerate a situation whereby their property is damaged and stolen by criminals with impunity, just because our police station is unhelpful and takes them for granted, and is in cahoots with criminals, rapists and murderers.
“We want Nongoloza to be released because he has not committed any crime, he has not touched anyone and it is funny that out of a large number of crime prevention unit members, Nongoloza is the only one who has been arrested,” fumed another protesting lady resident.