Byline: Nonjabuliso Nhlambo

09 October 2023

Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security, and Liaison, Mr. Vusi Shongwe, has called for the arrest of members of forums who extort money from people who are given tenders in Msukaligwa and other areas.

The MEC was speaking during a public participation program (Imbizo) that was held at Breyten in Msukaligwa Local Municipality on Saturday, 07 October 2023.  

According to Shongwe, these extortionists usually claim to represent communities while representing their own selfish interests. 

Shongwe said that such forums also go to the extent of delaying projects that are meant to bring development and create much-needed jobs for the government and municipalities.

He further stated that some of the violent service delivery protests are fuelled by these individuals. He added that they also demand payments from mining companies operating in the area, stating that they should be arrested and stopped in their tracks.

“Communities must not be intimidated by such forums claiming to represent them while they are serving their own pockets. Communities should rather work with forums that are fighting crime. Forums or any individuals who mobilize people for violent protests must be reported to the police,” the MEC said.

Forums that were patrolling the streets were called upon by Shongwe to work with the police, saying all their programs must be known by the station.

Meanwhile, most Breyten residents who spoke during yesterday’s gathering expressed their joy at crime-busting forums in the area.

They compliment the audience, which mostly consists of young people.

On the other hand, some of the issues they raised included the unavailability of vehicles at the station to assist in responding to crime scenes.

Others bemoaned the lack of feedback on crime cases opened.

Responding to some of the issues raised by the community, Acting District Commissioner Brigadier Winnie Mavuso explained that it was difficult for the police to arrest suspects or open cases when there was not enough information or reasonable grounds to do so. 

Mavuso therefore, appealed to the communities to provide the police with information that would assist the police in solving crime cases and bringing perpetrators to justice.

Before the community engagement, the MEC and his entourage were briefed that Breyten was surrounded by about 14 mines and over 20 taverns.

It also emerged that some of the assault cases were attributable to alcohol abuse.

The most prevalent crimes in Breyten include theft of copper cables and diesel from surrounding mines, livestock theft, and business robberies.